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 that belong to that group.
You can specify a shared resources directory and create a package
group when you run
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:
- Set the primary group for each user to the group that shares the
instance of the group Installation
Manager.
If the primary group is not set, the user must log in to the group
that is associated with the Installation
Manager.
Alternatively, a user with root privileges must run chgrp to
change the group associated with the installed files of the user.
For
information about permissions, see Permissions in group mode.
Table 1. ExampleUser |
Primary group |
Other groups |
User_A |
wasadmin |
User_A |
User_B |
wasadmin |
User_B |
- Set the environment variables for changing shortcuts from
the default application data location.
- 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.
- Consult the product documentation to verify that the packages
you are installing are enabled for group mode.
- Begin installing packages in group mode
by using the Installation
Manager user
interface.