DB2 10.5 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

DB2 pureScale environment installation methods

You have a choice of installation methods to install a DB2® pureScale® environment.

A DB2 pureScale environment can be installed using the DB2 Setup wizard or a response file installation. Both methods use the db2setup command. You can also manually install the DB2 pureScale Feature using the db2_install command (however, this command is deprecated and might be removed in a future release).

DB2 Setup wizard

The DB2 Setup wizard provides an easy-to-use interface for installing DB2 products and for performing initial setup and configuration tasks.

The DB2 Setup wizard is a graphical installer. To install a DB2 product using the DB2 Setup wizard, you require an X Window System (X11) to display the graphical user interface (GUI). To display the GUI on your local workstation, the X Window System software must be installed and running, and you must set the DISPLAY variable to the IP address of the workstation you use to install the DB2 product (export DISPLAY=<ip-address>:0.0). For example, export DISPLAY=192.168.1.2:0.0. For details, see this developerWorks® article: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/paixperiences/entry/remotex11aix?lang=en.

The DB2 Setup wizard provides a clear flow through which you can launch a DB2 pureScale Feature installation from one host, called the installation-initiating host, and successfully setup a DB2 pureScale environment across multiple hosts. This interactive deployment includes validating all hosts, installing the DB2 pureScale Feature on all hosts, and ensuring that the DB2 cluster services are set up and available between all the hosts. Simply provide a list of host names and valid shared disks for the DB2 installer and all the necessary software is installed on the specified hosts.

The DB2 Setup wizard can also create a DB2 instance.

You can also choose to create a response file without installing the product or creating an instance. As you go through each of the GUI panels, all necessary validations are performed. You can choose to update all the hostnames and shared disk names in the generated response file so that it can be used on other hosts. The response file installation can be launched from any host in the host list as the installation-initiating host (IIH).

Response file installation

A response file is a text file that contains setup and configuration values. The file is read by the DB2 setup program and the installation is performed according to the values that have been specified. A response file installation is also referred to as a silent installation.

Another advantage to response files is that they provide access to parameters that cannot be set using the DB2 Setup wizard.

If you embed the DB2 installation image in your own application, it is possible for your application to receive installation progress information in computer-readable form. This behavior is controlled by the INTERACTIVE response file keyword.

There are a two ways to create a response file:

Using the DB2 Setup wizard

The DB2 Setup wizard can create a response file based on the selections you make as you proceed through the DB2 Setup wizard. Your selections are recorded in a response file that you can save to a location on your system.

One benefit of this installation method is that you can create a response file without performing an installation. This feature can be useful to capture the options required to install the DB2 product. The response file can be used at a later time to install the DB2 product according to the exact options you specified. If you plan to use the generated response file to do your DB2 pureScale Feature installation and instance setup on different hosts with different shared disks, you will need to make minor changes to that generated response file.

You can export a client or server profile with the db2cfexp command to save your client or server configuration, and then easily import the profile using the db2cfimp command. A client or server profile exported with the db2cfexp command can also be imported during a response file installation using the CLIENT_IMPORT_PROFILE keyword.

You should export the client or server profile after performing the installation and cataloging any data sources.

Using the sample response file

An alternative to using the DB2 Setup wizard to create a response file is to manually modify a sample response file. Sample response files are provided on the DB2 product DVD and can be found in the <image path>/db2/platform/samples/product-name.rsp, where platform refers to the appropriate operating system. The sample response files provide details about all the valid keywords for each product.

db2_install command

Important: The command db2_install is deprecated and might be removed in a future release. Use the db2setup command with a response file instead.

The db2_install command installs all components for the DB2 product you specify. You can then use the db2icrt command to create DB2 pureScale instance or the db2iupdt command to convert the existing instance to a DB2 pureScale instance.

Although the db2_install command installs all components for the DB2 product you specify, it does not perform user and group creation, instance creation, or configuration. This method of installation might be preferred in cases where configuration is to be done after installation. To configure your DB2 product while installing it, consider using the DB2 Setup wizard or response file installation.

If you embed the DB2 installation image in your own application, it is possible for your application to receive installation progress information in computer-readable form.

This installation methods requires manual configuration after the product files are deployed.

After db2_install successfully installs the DB2 binary files on the installation-initiating host (IIH), you must create the DB2 pureScale instance. After the DB2 pureScale instance is created, you can add a new member or additional cluster caching facilities. For details, see the post-installation tasks.