Recording a response file with Installation Manager

You can create a response file by recording your actions in Installation Manager. When you record a response file, all of the selections that you make in Installation Manager are stored in an XML file. When you run Installation Manager in silent mode, Installation Manager uses the data in the XML response file to perform the installation.
About this task
When you are recording a response file, you can choose to perform the actions, for example installing a package, or you can choose to just record the create a response file without performing the actions. Note that when you are recording a response file, preferences that you set, including repository settings, are not stored. Follow these steps to record a response file:
  1. On a command line, change to the eclipse subdirectory in the directory where you installed Installation Manager. For example:
    • For Windows®: cd C:\Program Files\IBM\Installation Manager\eclipse
    • For other platforms: cd /opt/IBM/InstallationManager/eclipse
  2. On a command line, type the following command to start the Installation Manager, substituting your own file name and location for the response file and (optionally) the log file:
    • For Windows: IBMIM –record <response file and path name> -log <log file and path name>. For example, IBMIM.exe -record c:\mylog\responsefile.xml -log c:\mylog\record_log.xml
      Note: Ensure the file paths you enter exist; Installation Manager will not create directories for the response file and the log file.
    • For other platforms: IBMIM –record <response file and path name> -log <log file and path name>.
    • You can record a response file without performing any wizard actions by adding the optional -skipInstall <agentDataLocation> argument. Note that <agentDataLocation> must be a writable directory.

      For Windows: IBMIM -record <response file and path name> -skipInstall <a writable directory for agent data location>. For example IBMIM -record c:\mylog\responsefile.xml -skipInstall c:\temp\recordData

      When you add this argument:
      1. The packages are not installed or uninstalled. The artifacts are not be downloaded and the actions are not be executed.
      2. Installation Manager saves the data to the location that you specified.
      3. Recording the response file is faster, because the Installation Manager is not performing actions, it is just recording the data.

      You can use the same <agentDataLocation> in the next recording session to record license management, updates, or modifications to the product. These changes will be added to the agent data location.

  3. Follow the on-screen instructions in the appropriate wizard. If you copied the repository to a new location, you can set the location of the repository using the File > Preferences > Repository Location dialog.
  4. Click Finish, then close Installation Manager.
Results
An XML response file is created and saved in the location that you specified in the command.

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