You install packages into a package group. A package group represents a directory that contains resources that packages share with other packages in the same group. When you install packages with Installation Manager, you can choose to create a package group or install the packages into an existing package group. Some packages cannot share a package group. In this case, the option to use an existing package group is disabled.
When you install multiple packages at the same time, you can install the packages into different package groups.
A package group is assigned a name automatically. For some products, you can edit the default package group name. You choose the installation directory for the package group.
After creating a package group by successfully installing a package, you cannot change the installation directory. The installation directory contains files and resources specific to the packages that are installed into that package group. Resources in the package that can be used by other package groups are placed in the shared resources directory.
On Linux, UNIX and z/OS® platforms, users can share packages in a common location and manage the packages with the same instance of Installation Managerusing group mode. You can start Installation Manager in group mode with the ./IBMIM command. Group mode is not available on Windows and IBM i platforms.
When you are installing Installation Manager or packages in group mode, the installation location includes the specified directory path for packages belonging to that group.