Installing in Unattended (Silent) Mode

Create a response file and use it to run the installer silently. Use silent installation if you cannot run the GUI installer.

A response file is an ASCII file that you create by running the installer with special options. There are two types of response file, which are generated in different ways:
  • Use the -options-record switch to run the installer in GUI or console mode. This switch records your responses to installation questions in a response file. You can further customize the installation by using a text editor to modify the response file.
  • Use the -options-template switch to run the installer. This switch creates a template response file, which contains all of the installation questions, but no responses. Use a text editor to add responses to the template file.

Except for user interactions in GUI and console mode installations, the result of a silent installation is identical to the result of a GUI or console installation using the same responses.

You can perform silent installations in both Windows and UNIX operating systems.

  1. Log in using an account with administrative privileges.
  2. Change the default directory to the installer image directory.
  3. Run the setupConsole.exe or setup program for your operating system type, choosing the option for either a populated response file or an empty template file. Enter absolute paths as the values for the command options -options-record, -options-template, and -options.
    Action Windows UNIX
    Installs the product and creates a response file
    .\setupConsole.exe 
    -options-record 
    <full_path_to_
    response_ file>
    ./setup -is:javaconsole  
    -options-record <full_
    path_to_response_ file>
    Creates a template file only; does not install the product
    .\setupConsole.exe 
    -options-template 
    <full_path_to_
    response_ file>
    ./setup -is:javaconsole 
    -options-template <full_path_
    to_response_file>
    Note: When you create a response file in UNIX, add the -console option to run the installer in console mode rather than GUI mode. When you create a template file, there is no difference between console mode and GUI mode.
  4. (Skip if you are creating a template response file) Execute the installation and respond to the prompts; the installer saves your responses in the response file you specified.
  5. Edit the response or template file to customize it if necessary. (You must add responses if you created a template response file.)
  6. (Optional) Silent installation fails when a response is required and is not available in the response file. Such a response is required when product files already exist on disk and appear to be newer than the files the installer is attempting to install, or when files have been modified by users. To specify actions to take with respect to existing files, use the -G option to set these options in the command line or the response file:
    Option Stores your response to Values
    replaceExistingResponse Do you want to replace a file that currently exists on your system with the one being installed?

    For all four options:


    • yesToAll
    • yes
    • noToAll
    • no
    replaceNewerResponse Do you want to replace a file that currently exists on your system with the one being installed if the existing file is newer than the file being installed?
    removeExistingResponse Do you want to remove a file that currently exists on your system?
    removeModifiedResponse Do you want to remove a file that has been modified since installation?

    Use this syntax to specify the options: -G <option>="<value>"

    See the Examples below.

  7. To launch a silent installation, run the setupConsole or setup program for your operating system. Use -silent to specify a silent installation, -options to supply the absolute path to the response file, and -W to indicate that you accept the Sybase license agreement.
    Windows UNIX
    .\setupConsole.exe -silent 
    -options <full_path_to_response_ file> 
    -W SybaseLicense.agreeToLicense=true
    ./setup -is:javaconsole -silent 
    -options <full_path_to_response_ file> 
    -W SybaseLicense.agreeToLicense=true

Examples

Windows

.\setupConsole.exe
-silent
-options <full_path_to_response_file>
-W SybaseLicense.agreeToLicense=true
-G removeModifiedResponse="no"

UNIX

./setup -is:javaconsole
-silent
-options <full_path_to_response_file>
-W SybaseLicense.agreeToLicense=true
-G replaceNewerResponse="yesToAll"


Created April 16, 2009. Send feedback on this help topic to Sybase Technical Publications: pubs@sybase.com