Group road maps and the user interface

On Linux, UNIX and z/OS® platforms, users can share packages in a common location and manage the packages with the same instance of IBM® Installation Manager by using group mode.

By using one of your predefined user groups, all users in the group can run the same instance of Installation Manager to manage packages that are enabled for 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.

You can specify a shared resources directory and create a package group when running Installation Manager in group mode.
Important: The shared resources directory in group mode can be specified only the first time you install a package. Use your largest drive for this installation. You cannot change the directory location until you uninstall all packages.

Installing in group mode with the user interface

Use the Installation Manager user interface in group mode to install software packages:
  1. Set the primary group for each user to the group that is sharing the instance of the group Installation Manager. If the primary group is not set, the user must run chgrp to change the group associated with the installed files of the user.
    Table 1. Example
    User Primary group Other groups
    User_A wasadmin User_A
    User_B wasadmin User_B
  2. Set the permissions for each user in the group.
  3. Set the environment variables for changing shortcuts from the default application data location.
  4. Install Installation Manager in group mode. See Start with the installer package to install Installation Manager.
    Note: As you install Installation Manager in group mode, do the actions:
    • Change the installation location from the default location in the home directory of the current user to a location that is read/write accessible by all users in the group.
    • Change the application data location from the default location in the home directory of the current user to a location that is read/write accessible by all users in the group.
    • Specify the shared resources directory in a location that is accessible by all users in the group and has enough disk space. To change the shared resources directory later, you must uninstall all packages and reinstall the packages in the new location.
  5. Consult the product documentation to verify that the packages you are installing are enabled for group mode.
  6. Begin installing packages in group mode by using the Installation Manager user interface.

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