Appendix B Silent Installation and Uninstallation of a Web Agent in Policy Agent 3.0

In addition to a standard installation and uninstallation of web agents, you can perform a silent installation or uninstallation. This appendix provides a description of how to use the silent option for the installation and uninstallation of web agents.

About Silent Installation and Uninstallation of a Web Agent in Policy Agent 3.0

A silent installation or uninstallation refers to installing or uninstalling a program by implementing a script. The script is part of a state file. The script provides all the answers that you would normally supply to the installation or uninstallation program interactively. Running the script saves time and is useful when you want to install or uninstall multiple instances of Policy Agent using the same parameters in each instance.

Silent installation is a simple two-step process of generating a state file and then using that state file. To generate a state file, you record the installation or uninstallation process, entering all the required information that you would enter during a standard installation or uninstallation. Then you run the installation or uninstallation program with the state file as the input source.

Generating a State File for a Web Agent Installation

This section describes how to generate a state file for installing a web agent. This task requires you to issue a command that records the information you will enter as you follow the agent installation steps. Enter all the necessary installation information in order to create a complete state file.

To Generate a State File for a Web Agent Installation

To generate a state file for a web agent installation, perform the following:

1. Change to the following directory:

   PolicyAgent-base/bin

   This directory contains the agentadmin program, which is used for installing a web agent and for performing other tasks. For more information on the agentadmin program, see Role of the agentadmin Program in Policy Agent 3.0.

2. Issue the following command:

   ./agentadmin --install --saveResponse filename

   -saveResponse

   An option that saves all of your responses to installation prompts in a state file.

   filename

   Represents the name that you choose for the state file.

3. Answer the prompts to install the agent.

   Your answers to the prompts are recorded in the state file. When the installation is complete, the state file is created in the same directory where the installation program is located.

Using a State File for a Web Agent Silent Installation

The installation program does not validate inputs or the state in the silent installation. Ensure that the proper environment exists before performing a silent installation.

To Install a Web Agent Using a State File

To perform a silent installation of a web agent using a state file, perform the following:

1. Change to the following directory:

   PolicyAgent-base/bin

   At this point, this bin directory should contain the agentadmin program and the web agent installation state file.

2. Issue the following command:

   ./agentadmin --install --useResponse filename

   -useResponse

   An option that directs the installer to run in non-interactive mode as it obtains all responses to prompts from the named state file.

   filename

   Represents the name of the state file from which the installer obtains all responses.

   The installation takes place hidden from view. After completion, the program exits automatically and displays the prompt.

Generating a State File for a Web Agent Uninstallation

This section describes how to generate a state file for uninstalling a web agent. This task requires you to issue a command that records the information you will enter as you follow the agent uninstallation steps. Enter all the necessary uninstallation information in order to create a complete state file.

To Generate a State File for a Web Agent Uninstallation

To generate a state file for uninstallation of a web agent, perform the following:

1. Change to the following directory:

   PolicyAgent-base/bin

   This directory contains the agentadmin program, which is used for uninstalling a web agent and for performing other tasks. For more information on the agentadmin program, see Role of the agentadmin Program in Policy Agent 3.0.

2. Issue the following command:

   ./agentadmin --uninstall --saveResponse filename

   -saveResponse

   An option that saves all of your responses to uninstallation prompts in a state file.

   filename

   Represents the name that you choose for the state file.

3. Answer the prompts to uninstall the agent.

   Your answers to the prompts are recorded in the state file. When uninstallation is complete, the state file is created in the same directory where the uninstallation program is located.

Using a State File for a Web Agent Silent Uninstallation

The uninstallation program does not validate inputs or the state in the silent installation. Ensure that the proper environment exists before performing a silent uninstallation.

To Uninstall a Web Agent Using a State File

To perform a silent uninstallation of a web agent using a state file, perform the following:

1. Change to the following directory:

   PolicyAgent-base/bin

   At this point, this bin directory should contain the agentadmin program and the web agent uninstallation state file.

2. Issue the following command:

   ./agentadmin --uninstall --useResponse filename

   -useResponse

   An option that runs the uninstallation process in non-interactive mode as all responses to prompts are obtained from the named state file.

   filename

   Represents the name of the state file from which the installer obtains all responses.

   The uninstallation takes place hidden from view. After completion, the program exits automatically and displays the prompt.