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Installation Guide

# Running the Installation Program in Silent Mode

The following sections describe how to run the installation program in silent mode:

- What Is Silent-Mode Installation?
- Using Silent-Mode Installation: Main Steps
- Creating a silent.xml File for Silent-Mode Installation
- Sample silent.xml File for Silent-Mode Installation
- Returning Exit Codes to the Console
- What's Next?

# What Is Silent-Mode Installation?

Silent-mode installation is a way of setting installation configurations only once and then using those configurations to duplicate the installation on many machines. During installation in silent mode, the installation program reads the settings for your configuration from an XML file that you create prior to beginning the installation. The installation program does not display any configuration options during the installation process. Silent-mode installation works on both Windows and UNIX systems. Using silent-mode installation implies that you consent to the BEA License Agreement. You neither see a copy of the BEA Software License Agreement nor have any means of accepting the terms of the agreement.

The instructions in this section are based on the assumption that you have already acquired the installation program, either on CD or from the BEA Web site. For more information, see Product Distribution Methods.

# Using Silent-Mode Installation: Main Steps

The silent-mode installation process has two primary steps:

1. Create a `silent.xml` file that defines the configuration settings normally entered by a user during an interactive installation process, such as graphical-mode or console-mode installation. For example, values for the BEA Home directory, the product directory, and the components to be installed are supplied in a `silent.xml` file.

For a detailed procedure, see Creating a silent.xml File for Silent-Mode Installation. For a sample `silent.xml` file, see Sample silent.xml File for Silent-Mode Installation.

2. Start the silent-mode installation process using the values specified in the `silent.xml` file.

For details on starting the installation in silent mode, see Starting the Installation Program.

## Important Considerations for Silent-Mode Installation

When you are performing an installation in silent mode, keep in mind the following considerations:

- Silent-mode installation requires the same amount of temporary disk space and uses the same temporary storage directories as a standard installation. For more information, see Temporary Disk Space Requirements. The installation program does not alert you if there is not enough space in the temporary directory.
- A silent-mode installation takes the same amount of time as a standard installation. At the beginning of a silent-mode installation, an initial installation program window or message is displayed briefly, indicating that the installation has started. No messages are displayed to indicate that the installation is in progress or has completed successfully.
- Incorrect entries in the `silent.xml` file can cause installation failures. To help you determine the cause of a failure, we recommend that you create a log file when you start the installation. For more information, see Generating a Verbose Installation Log.
- The XML definition (`<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>`) must be at the very beginning of the `silent.xml` file. There cannot be any spaces or line breaks before the XML definition.
- You cannot reinstall any BEA product on top of a previously installed version of the same product—in the same BEA Home directory or in the same file location. You can, however, add products and product components to an existing installation. For example, you can install WebLogic Server during one installation, and AquaLogic Service Bus during a separate installation. However, to reinstall the same version of one of the products, you must first uninstall the previously installed instance of it, as described in Uninstalling the Software, or install the new instance in another location.

# Creating a silent.xml File for Silent-Mode Installation

When you install your BEA software in silent mode, the installation program uses an XML file (`silent.xml`) to determine which installation options should be implemented. Therefore, before you can run the installation program in silent mode, you must first create a `silent.xml` file in which you specify the installation options that you want to have invoked.

Note: Incorrect entries in the `silent.xml` file can cause installation failures. To help you determine the cause of a failure, we recommend that you create a log file when you start the installation.

To create a `silent.xml` file for use in the silent-mode installation process, follow these steps:

1. In a supported browser, display the sample `silent.xml` file for silent-mode installation. The sample file is available at `http://e-docs.bea.com/common/docs90/install/scripts/silent.xml`.

This sample `silent.xml` file is also presented later in this chapter. See Sample silent.xml File for Silent-Mode Installation.

2. Save the sample XML file, with the name `silent.xml`, in the same directory that contains the installation program.

Note: The XML definition (`<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>`) must be at the very beginning of the `silent.xml` file. There cannot be any spaces or line breaks before the XML definition.

3. In the `silent.xml` file that you saved on your system, edit the values for the keywords shown in Table 5-1 to reflect your configuration.

Note: You must follow XML guidelines for characters when modifying values. That is, you cannot use characters reserved for use in XML, such as `<`, `>`, `[`, and `]`.

Table 5-1 Values for the silent.xml File

For this data-value name . . . | Enter the following value . . .
--- | ---
`BEAHOME` | The full pathname for the BEA Home directory of your choice. For details about the BEA Home directory, see Choosing a BEA Home Directory.
`USER_INSTALL_DIR` | The full pathname for the directory where you want to install your BEA software. For details, see Choosing a Product Installation Directory.
`INSTALL_NODE_MANAGER_SERVICE` (Windows platforms only) | `yes` to install the WebLogic Server Node Manager as a Windows service. See About Installing Node Manager as a Windows Service. `no` to skip the installation of the WebLogic Server Node Manager as a Windows service.
`NODEMGR_PORT` | The Node Manager listen port. If you do not specify a port number, the installer uses the default port 5556. If the port number is in use, the installer scans for the next available port and assigns it to the Node Manager. Note: The `INSTALL_NODE_MANAGER_SERVICE` option must be set to `yes.` At the completion of the installation process, the Node Manager is started using the port specified.
`INSTALL_PUBLIC_JRE` (Windows platforms only) | `true` to install the public JRE and Java Plug-in. For more information, see Java Runtime Environment (JRE). `false` to skip the installation of the Public JRE and Java Plug-in. The default is `false`. This option must be set to `true` to install the Java Plug-in.
`REGISTER_PLUGIN_WITH_IE` | `true` to install the Java Plug-in for Internet Explorer if it is installed on your system. `false` to skip the installation of the Java Plug-in for Internet Explorer. Note: The `INSTALL_PUBLIC_JRE` option must be set to `true`.
`REGISTER_PLUGIN_WITH_NS_AND_MOZILLA` | `true` to install the Java Plug-in for Netscape and Mozilla if they are installed on your system. `false` to skip the installation of the Java Plug-in for Netscape and Mozilla. Note: The `INSTALL_PUBLIC_JRE` option must be set to `true`.
`INSTALL_SHORTCUT_IN_ALL_USERS_FOLDER` | `true`, or `yes`, to create the shortcuts in the All Users folder. The default is `true`. `false`, or `no`, to create the shortcuts in the local users folder. The user performing the installation must have Administrator privileges to install the Start menu shortcuts in the All Users folder. For more information, see Administrator Privileges.
`COMPONENT_PATHS` | Specify the components and subcomponents you want to install on your system: To install WebLogic Server, use the following values: `WebLogic Server Server Server Examples Web Server Plug-Ins` To install AquaLogic Service Bus, use the following values: `AquaLogic Service Bus Service Bus Server Data Transformation Tools Service Bus Examples` For additional information about entering these values, see Guidelines for Component Selection. Note: If you are using the BEA Products installation program for WebLogic Server, you can specify the WebLogic Server components only.

## Guidelines for Component Selection

Use the following guidelines when you specify values for the `COMPONENT_PATHS` data-value name:

- When you specify a product component to be installed, all subcomponents are also installed. For example, the following entry installs both WebLogic Server and the examples:

>     <data-value name="COMPONENT_PATHS" value="WebLogic Server" />

- To install multiple components, separate the components with a bar (|). Do not leave a space before or after the bar. For example, to install WebLogic Server, AquaLogic Service Bus, and their subcomponents, enter the following line in the file:

>     <data-value name="COMPONENT_PATHS" value="WebLogic Server|AquaLogic Service Bus" />

- To specify subcomponents, you must specify a component/subcomponent combination for each entry. For example:

>     <data-value name="COMPONENT_PATHS" value="WebLogic Server/Server|WebLogic Server/Server Examples|WebLogic Server/Web Server Plug-Ins" />

- If you do not include the `COMPONENT_PATHS` data-value name in the `silent.xml` file, the complete WebLogic Server and AquaLogic Service Bus products are installed. The Web Server Plug-ins subcomponent of WebLogic Server is not installed by default.

Note: The installer performs dependency checking to ensure that all required components are installed.

# Sample silent.xml File for Silent-Mode Installation

>     <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
>     <!-- Silent installer option: -mode=silent -silent_xml=C:\bea\silent.xml -->

>     <bea-installer>

>       <input-fields>
>          <data-value name="BEAHOME"                  value="C:\bea" />
>          <data-value name="USER_INSTALL_DIR"          value="C:\bea\weblogic90" />
>          <data-value name="INSTALL_NODE_MANAGER_SERVICE"   value="yes"  />
>          <data-value name="NODEMGR_PORT"                   value="5559" />
>          <data-value name="COMPONENT_PATHS" value="WebLogic Server/Server|WebLogic
>     Server/Server Examples|WebLogic Server/Web Server Plug-Ins|AquaLogic Service Bus" />

>          <!-- Install Public JRE
>                Default value is false.
>                This option is available in Win32 installer -->
>          <data-value name="INSTALL_PUBLIC_JRE"             value="true" />

>          <!-- Install Java plugin for Internet Explorer Web browser
>                if Internet Explorer is installed on the system.
>                This option is available in Win32 JRE installer.
>                It also works in Win32 JDK installer, but the
>                INSTALL_PUBLIC_JRE option must be "true"        -->
>           <data-value name="REGISTER_PLUGIN_WITH_IE"       value="true" />

>           <!-- Install Java plugin with Netscape and Mozilla Web browsers
>                if they are installed on the system.
>                This option is available in Win32 JRE installer.
>                It also works in Win32 SDK installer, but the
>                INSTALL_PUBLIC_JRE option must be "true"        -->
>           <data-value name="REGISTER_PLUGIN_WITH_NS_AND_MOZILLA"  value="true" />

>           <!-- If the current user is an administrator on a Windows machine
>                This flag indicates where BEA shortcuts should be created.
>                Possible values:
>                true/yes  The shortcuts will be in All Users folder
>                false/no  The shortcuts will be in the local folder
>                The default is to create in All Users folder.   -->
>           <data-value name="INSTALL_SHORTCUT_IN_ALL_USERS_FOLDER"   value="yes"/>

>     </input-fields>
>     </bea-installer>

# Returning Exit Codes to the Console

When run in silent mode, the installation program generates exit codes that indicate the success or failure of the installation. These exit codes are shown in the following table.

Code | Description
--- | ---
0 | Installation completed successfully
-1 | Installation failed due to a fatal error
-2 | Installation failed due to an internal XML parsing error

If you are launching the silent-mode installation process from a script, you can choose to have these exit codes displayed on the console. Listing 5-1 provides a sample command file that invokes the installation program in silent mode and echoes the exit codes to the console from which the script is executed.

Listing 5-1 Sample Command File Displaying Silent-Mode Exit Codes

>     rem Execute the installer in silent mode
>     @echo off
>     alsb200_wls900_win32.exe -mode=silent -silent_xml=C:\downloads\silent.xml -log=C:\logs\products_silent.log

>     @rem Return an exit code to indicate success or failure of installation
>     set exit_code=%ERRORLEVEL%

>     @echo.
>     @echo Exitcode=%exit_code%
>     @echo.
>     @echo Exit Code Key
>     @echo ---------------
>     @echo  0=Installation completed successfully
>     @echo -1=Installation failed due to a fatal error
>     @echo -2=Installation failed due to an internal XML parsing error
>     @echo.

# What's Next?

By default, your BEA software uses the development license file installed in the BEA Home directory so that you can start using the product immediately. We recommend that you run the QuickStart application to familiarize yourself with the software and execute the samples provided. For additional information, see Post-Installation Information.

Note: QuickStart is not invoked automatically for console-mode or silent-mode installations. You can launch QuickStart from the Start Menu (Windows), or from the command line (Windows and UNIX). For instructions, see Using QuickStart.

For specific information about your software release, see the appropriate release notes:

- BEA WebLogic Server® and WebLogic ExpressTM Release Notes at `http://e-docs.bea.com/wls/docs90/notes/index.html`
- BEA AquaLogic Service BusTM Release Notes at `http://e-docs.bea.com/alsb/docs20/relnotes/index.html`
- BEA Products Installation and Configuration Release Notes at `http://e-docs.bea.com/common/docs90/relnotes/index.html`