Sun Java Enterprise System 5 Update 1 Installation Guide for UNIX

Chapter 5 Installing in Silent Mode

Silent installation is a non-interactive method used for installing Sun JavaTM Enterprise System (Java ES) on multiple hosts that share similar configurations. This chapter provides instructions for using silent mode to install the Java ES software.

This chapter includes the following sections:

How Silent Installation Works

To run a silent installation, you first run an interactive installation session using the silent install syntax of the installer command. During the interactive session, your responses to the installer are captured as a set of name-value pairs in a state file. Each name-value pair represents a single prompt or field in the installation process. With the state file as input, you can then run the installer on other hosts. This process allows you to propagate one configuration across multiple hosts in your deployment.

The installer cannot run a state file from a different version of Java ES. That is, if you create your state file using Java ES 5U1, you cannot use this state file to install Java ES 2005Q4.

The following table presents the main events in a silent installation. Links to instructions are in the right column.

Table 5–1 Silent Installation Events

Event 

Location of Instructions 

1. Verify that your hosts meet the Java ES installation prerequisites. 

Verifying Installation Prerequisites.

2. Run an interactive installation session to generate a state file. 

Generating the Initial State File

     - Using the graphical installer 

Chapter 3, Installing With the Graphical Interface

     - Using the text-based installer 

Chapter 4, Installing With the Text-Based Interface

3. Copy the state file to another host and edit the state file for that host. 

Editing the State File

4. (Optional) Edit the state file to run on a different platform from the platform where the state file was generated. 

Creating a Platform-Appropriate State File ID

5. Run a silent installation session on each host. 

Running the Installer in Silent Mode

Creating a State File

To create a state file, you must run an interactive session of the installer. A state file generated by the installer takes advantage of the installer’s real-time dependency checking and error reporting.


Caution – Caution –

Do not create a state file manually. This method can cause problems at installation time, configuration time, or server startup time.


Generating the Initial State File

You create the initial state file by running the installer interactively using the parameters of the installer command that tell the installer to capture your answers. As you proceed through the pages of the installer, your answers are captured and a state file is generated. The installer determines the order of the product components to be installed, so you can specify the components in any order. When you complete the installation, the state file is available in the location that you specified.

You can use the -no option if you do not want software to be installed during this session.

Syntax examples:

Full syntax for the installer command can be found in Appendix B, Installation Commands.

Refer to Appendix C, Example State File to see an example of a generated state file.

Editing the State File

After you have generated a state file, you must edit the state file to ensure that the local parameters are set correctly for the destination host. These parameters include host name, domain name, IP address, and other such settings.


Caution – Caution –

In a state file created for silent installation, some parameters specify sensitive data, such as administrator passwords. Make sure to secure the file as appropriate for your deployment.


You might also need to change the state file ID, if you plan to do an installation on a platform that is different from the one on which you generated the initial state file.

This section addresses the following topics:

State File Editing Guidelines

When editing the state file, follow these guidelines:

Editing Local Parameters

The following table lists parameters that you might need to edit, depending on the product components you want to install or on your host. For example, the host on which you generated the state file might be in the same domain as the host on which you are installing.

For a description of each parameter, refer to the tables in Chapter 3, Configuration Information, in Sun Java Enterprise System 5 Update 1 Installation Reference for UNIX.

Table 5–2 State File Parameters Often Edited for Silent Installation

Component 

Parameter Name 

Common Server Settings 

CMN_HOST_NAME

CMN_DOMAIN_NAME

CMN_IPADDRESS

CMN_ADMIN_USER

CMN_ADMIN_PASSWORD

CMN_SYSTEM_USER

CMN_SYSTEM_GROUP

Access Manager 

IS_WS_HOST_NAME

IS_WS_INSTANCE_DIR (if Web Server is the web container)

CONSOLE_HOST

IS_SERVER_HOST

IS_DS_HOST

IS_DS_HOSTNAME

COOKIE_DOMAIN_LIST

Application Server 

ASNA_ADMIN_HOST_NAME

AS_WEB_SERVER_LOCATION

AS_WEB_SERVER_PLUGIN_TYPE

Directory Server 

CREATE_INSTANCE

DSEE_INSTANCE_DIR

DSEE_INSTANCE_PORT

DSEE_INSTANCE_SSL_PORT

DSEE_DN_MANAGER

DSEE_INSTANCE_USER

DSEE_INSTANCE_GROUP

DSEE_INSTANCE_PASSWORD

DSEE_SUFFIX

Portal Server 

PS_PORTALACCESS_URL

format is http://hostname.domainname:port/deploy_uri)

PS_DEPLOY_INSTANCE

Portal Server Secure Remote Access 

SRA_SERVER_DOMAIN

SRA_GW_HOSTNAME

SRA_GW_DOMAIN

SRA_GW_IPADDRESS

SRA_NLP_HOSTNAME

SRA_NLP_DOMAIN

SRA_NLP_IPADDRESS

SRA_RWP_HOSTNAME

SRA_RWP_DOMAIN

SRA_RWP_IPADDRESS

Web Server 

WS_ADMIN_HOST

Web Proxy Server 

CMN_WPS_INSTALLDIR

WPS_ADMIN_USER

WPS_ADMIN_PASSWORD

WPS_ADMIN_PORT

WPS_ADMIN_RUNTIME_USER

WPS_INSTANCE_RUNTIME_USER

WPS_ISNTANCE_PORT

WPS_INSTANCE_AUTO_START

WPS_PROXY_DOMAIN

Creating a Platform-Appropriate State File ID

A state file can only be run on a host of the same platform type as the host where the state file was generated unless you edit the state file ID. Each platform has a different type of state file ID.

ProcedureTo Generate a State File ID Using the Installer

This procedure generates a state file ID by running the installer on the platform on which you want to perform silent installation.


Note –

The following command works only if you are generating an ID for the same platform on which you are running the command.


  1. If you are not logged in as root, become superuser.

  2. Navigate to the directory where the installer is located:


    cd installer-directory
    
  3. Run the installer command using the -id option.


    ./installer -id

    The command generates an encrypted identifier.

  4. Copy the identifier and paste the value into the state file as the value for the STATE_BEGIN and STATE_DONE parameters.

    The following is an example of the state file identifier within a state file:


    [STATE_BEGIN Sun Java(tm) Enterprise System \
    f31c7e86a64605bc5b9b629931a30b275a0eb447]
    .
    .
    .
    [STATE_DONE Sun Java(tm) Enterprise System \
    f31c7e86a64605bc5b9b629931a30b275a0eb447]

Running the Installer in Silent Mode

You should run the installer on a host that has the same operating system as the host on which you generated the state file. If you cannot do this, refer to Creating a Platform-Appropriate State File ID.

If you have problems during installation, refer to Chapter 9, Troubleshooting.

ProcedureTo Run the Installer in Silent Mode

Silent installation can be lengthy, depending on the quantity and type of product components that you are installing.

  1. Verify that your state file is edited correctly for the host.


    Caution – Caution –

    In a state file created for silent installation, some parameters specify sensitive data, such as administrator passwords. Make sure to secure the file as appropriate for your deployment.


  2. If you are not logged in as root, become superuser.

  3. Navigate to the directory where the installer utility is located.


    cd installer-directory
    
  4. Run the installer using the following syntax:


    ./installer -noconsole -state statefile
    
    —noconsole

    Start the installer in silent mode, suppressing the user interface.

    —state

    Use the specified state file as input to a silent installation.

    statefile

    Specify an absolute or relative pathname to a state file.

  5. After installation is complete, proceed to the next host and repeat Steps 1 through 4.

ProcedureTo Monitor the Progress of a Silent Installation

  1. To monitor a silent installation, navigate to the log file directory:

    Solaris OS: cd /var/sadm/install/logs

    Linux: cd /var/opt/sun/install/logs

  2. Locate the log files for the current installation.

    The shared components are installed first and the product components follow. The timestamp variable represents the time the log was created. The variable has the format MMddhhmm.

    MM

    Specifies the month

    dd

    Specifies the date

    hh

    Specifies the hour

    mm

    Specifies the minute

  3. Use the tail command to watch messages as they are written to the logs:


    tail -f logfile-name
    

    To exit the tail program, press Ctrl+C.

Next Steps

After you have completed the installer portion of your Java ES installation, proceed as follows: