IBM Support

Installing IBM Support Assistant Team Server

Product Documentation


Abstract

This document provides information for installing IBM® Support Assistant Team Server using the IBM Installation Manager 1.8.0 or later.

Content

Prerequisites
Upgrade path
Installation
First steps
Migrating case data
System requirements

Prerequisites
IBM Installation Manager 1.8.0 or later is required and must be configured with the IBM Support Assistant repository. If you do not have the required IBM Installation Manager version, then a pre-configured copy can be downloaded with the Download Now button below.

Note: You can use IBM Installation Manager with a 32-bit or 64-bit architecture to install, update, or uninstall IBM Support Assistant Team Server and problem determination tools on Windows. However, you may see a warning stating that some packages are not supported with IBM Installation Manager 64-bit. There are no known problems using the 64-bit architecture, so you can safely ignore the message and proceed. To determine the architecture for IBM Installation Manager, click "Help -> About IBM Installation Manager" in the menu bar.

For instructions on installing IBM Installation Manager, see the Information Center.

Notes
  • Linux - Installing IBM Installation Manager on a Linux system requires 32-bit versions of OS system libraries. See this technote regarding Linux dependencies.
  • AIX - Installing IBM Installation Manager on AIX using a graphical user interface (GUI) requires gtk libraries. See this technote regarding AIX dependencies.
  • Install mode - IBM Installation Manager can be installed in administrator or non-administrator mode (details). IBM recommends installing IBM Installation Manager as non-administrator using userinst.exe.


Upgrade path
If IBM Support Assistant Team Server is already installed, you may upgrade to the latest version with the IBM Installation Manager update utility. Ensure that the server is stopped before attempting to upgrade. There is no upgrade path from the Tech Preview, Beta 1, or Beta 2.

If you installed any of the tools below with Beta 3 then they must also be upgraded.
  • Garbage Collection and Memory Visualizer (GCMV) [Report]
  • Memory Analyzer [Web]
  • Memory Analyzer [Report]
  • Pattern Modeling and Analysis Tool for Java Garbage Collector (PMAT) [Report]
  • Portal Log Analyzer [Report]
  • Profile Port Checker [Report]
  • Thread and Monitor Dump Analyzer for Java (TMDA) [Report]
  • WebSphere Application Server Configuration Visualizer [Report]


Installation
There are two options for installing IBM Support Assistant Team Server. If you already have IBM Installation Manager 1.8.0 or later then you can add a repository location that contains the IBM Support Assistant offerings. If you do not have IBM Installation Manager installed, then you can install it pre-configured and install IBM Support Assistant at the same time.



Option 1: Install IBM Installation Manager with IBM Support Assistant included
Use option 1 if you do not have IBM Installation Manager installed or if you want to let your existing IBM Installation Manager automatically update the repository location for IBM Support Assistant.
  1. Use the Download now button above to download the IBM Installation Manager package for IBM Support Assistant for the target platform.
  2. Extract the Installation Manager package for IBM Support Assistant.
  3. Start the installation for IBM Installation Manager. IBM recommends installing in non-administrator mode. If you install using administrator mode, then IBM Support Assistant must always be started with the same administrator credentials (details).
  4. Provide your IBM ID and password and click OK.
  5. All packages are selected by default for IBM Support Assistant installation and the IBM Support Assistant Tool offerings. De-select any offering which you choose not to install and click Next.
  6. Read and accept the license terms and click Next.
  7. If prompted, change the shared resource path or accept the default path and click Next.
  8. Change the installation path or accept the default and click Next. Note that IBM Support Assistant does not support installation into a directory path that contains '.' characters, space characters, or non-ASCII characters.
  9. Select the optional EAR Deployment' sub-feature if to install IBM Support Assistant into an existing WebSphere Application Server. You may need to expand the IBM Support Assistant offering to see the sub-feature in the UI. See this technote for details. Click Next.
  10. Verify that the system has enough physical disk space for installation and click Next.
  11. Click Install.
  12. After installation completes, click Finish and close IBM Installation Manager.


Option 2: Add a repository location for IBM Support Assistant to an existing IBM Installation Manager
Use option 2 if IBM Installation Manager is already installed and you want to manually add the IBM Support Assistant repository location.
  1. Start IBM Installation Manager and ensure that the most recent update is installed.
  2. Click File -> Preferences -> Updates and ensure that the 'Search for Installation Manager updates' option is checked. Restart IBM Installation Manager and update as necessary.
  3. Click File -> Preferences -> Repositories and then click the 'Add Repository...' button.
  4. Enter the URL: https://www.ibm.com/software/repositorymanager/com.ibm.isa.offerings.v5 and click OK.
  5. Provide your IBM ID and password if prompted and click OK.
  6. If there is an error connecting to the repository, ensure that IBM Installation Manager is updated as mentioned in (2) above and that your IBM ID credentials are accurate.
  7. Click OK to close the preferences.
  8. Click Install from the IBM Installation Manager panel.
  9. Select the IBM Support Assistant installation option and any IBM Support Assistant Tool offerings you would like to install and click Next.
  10. Read and accept the license terms and click Next.
  11. If prompted, change the shared resource path or accept the default path and click Next.
  12. Change the installation path or accept the default and click Next. Note that IBM Support Assistant does not support installation into a directory path that contains '.' characters, space characters or non-ASCII characters.
  13. Select the optional EAR Deployment' sub-feature to install IBM Support Assistant into an existing WebSphere Application Server. You may need to expand the IBM Support Assistant offering to see the sub-feature in the UI. See this technote for details. Click Next.
  14. Verify that the system has enough physical disk space for installation and click Next.
  15. Click Install.
  16. After installation completes, click Finish and close IBM Installation Manager.


Option 3: Add a stand-alone repository for IBM Support Assistant to an existing IBM Installation Manager
Use option 3 if you would like to install with IBM Installation Manager, but do not have internet connectivity to the IBM repository database.
  1. Use the Download now button above to download the latest stand-alone IBM Support Assistant repository.
  2. Extract the IBM Support Assistant repository compressed file.
  3. Start IBM Installation Manager and ensure that the most recent update is installed.
  4. Click File -> Preferences -> Updates and ensure that the 'Search for Installation Manager updates' option is checked. Restart IBM Installation Manager and update as necessary.
  5. Click File -> Preferences -> Repositories and then click the 'Add Repository...' button.
  6. Enter the repository location (example): \install path\repository.config and click OK..
  7. Click OK to close the preferences.
  8. Click Install from the IBM Installation Manager panel.
  9. Select the IBM Support Assistant installation option and any IBM Support Assistant Tool offerings you would like to install and click Next.
  10. Read and accept the license terms and click Next.
  11. If prompted, change the shared resource path or accept the default path and click Next.
  12. Change the installation path or accept the default and click Next. Note that IBM Support Assistant does not support installation into a directory path that contains '.' characters, space characters or non-ASCII characters.
  13. Select the optional EAR Deployment' sub-feature to install IBM Support Assistant into an existing WebSphere Application Server. You may need to expand the IBM Support Assistant offering to see the sub-feature in the interface. See this technote for details. Click Next.
  14. Verify that the system has enough physical disk space for installation and click Next.
  15. Click Install.
  16. After installation completes, click Finish and close IBM Installation Manager.

*Note the tools catalog administration panel in IBM Support Assistant Team Server is not supported with this option 3 installation method. If you chose to use the local stand-alone repository, you can still see what's in the tool catalog from the Tools Administration page if connected to the internet, however you will not be able to install, update or uninstall tools using the Tools Administration interface. You will need to download an updated or new copy of the stand-alone repository and install or update using the IBM Installation Manager.



First steps
After IBM Support Assistant Team Server is installed you are ready to start the application. To get started see the ReleaseNotes.txt file. It is located at the root of the installation directory and online.


Migrating case data
If you previously installed IBM Support Assistant Team Server Tech Preview, Beta 1, or Beta 2. You may copy existing cases to the <ISA_install>/ISA5/isa/cases folder in a new installation.

If you copy all the cases, they might overwrite the example case '0000'. To restore the example case unzip <ISA_install>/ISA5/isa/cases/0000_example_case.zip into the <ISA_install>/ISA5/isa/cases folder. Refresh your browser to reload the example case.




System requirements
System Requirements
Operating System Software Hardware
AIXAIX Version 7.1 (ppc-64)

Package dependencies: Some problem determination tools need X11 to generate images. *
Disk: Minimum 1.5 GB **

Physical memory: Minimum 512 MB ***
LinuxRed Hat Enterprise Linux, Version 6 Server with Update 5 (x86-64)

Package dependencies: Some problem determination tools need X11 to generate images. *
Disk: Minimum 1.5 GB **

Physical memory: Minimum 512 MB ***
WindowsWindows 2008 Server R2 with SP1

Windows 2008 Server R2 x64 with SP1

Windows 7 with SP1 (x86-32 and x86-64)
Disk: Minimum 1.5 GB **

Physical memory: Minimum 512 MB ***

* In a headless configuration, an X11 virtual frame buffer can be used. The relevant RedHat RPM is xorg-x11-server-Xvfb. See the ReleaseNotes.txt file in the IBM Support Assistant 5 installation directory for more information.

** Diagnostic files added to IBM Support Assistant 5 will require additional disk space. This may be significant if IBM Support Assistant will manage large files such as heap dumps and core files. Necessary disk storage should be considered during initial planning.

*** 1 GB or more is recommended for analyzing large files such as heap dumps and core files.




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Document Information

Modified date:
17 June 2018

UID

swg27039277