IBM Installation Manager - 32 vs 64 bits

I see this from time to time, this time whilst scripting up an IBM ODM Rules installation on Windows.

During the installation process: -

"c:\IBM\Installation Manager\eclipse\tools\imcl.exe" -input z:\DaveHay\Software\Repo\Win\ResponseFiles\installWAS8555_WIN.rsp -acceptLicense

I see this: -

ERROR: The 32-bit IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment package cannot be installed in a 64-bit package group.

even though I know that I've got the 64-bit version of WAS ready to install on a 64-bit OS.

As ever, the solution is simple :-)

Read my own blog, read my own notes, look at an existing response file, record a NEW response file.

This time around, I did the latter: -

"c:\IBM\Installation Manager\eclipse\IBMIM.exe" -record foobar.rsp -skipInstall c:\temp\foobar

which resulted in: -

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<agent-input>
  <variables>
    <variable name='sharedLocation' value='C:\IBM\IMShared'/>
  </variables>
  <server>
    <repository location='z:\DaveHay\Software\Repo\WAS\Product'/>
    <repository location='z:\DaveHay\Software\Repo\WAS\Fixes'/>
  </server>
  <profile id='IBM WebSphere Application Server V8.5' installLocation='C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer'>
    <data key='cic.selector.arch' value='x86'/>
  </profile>
  <install>
    <!-- IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment 8.5.5.5 -->
    <offering profile='IBM WebSphere Application Server V8.5' id='com.ibm.websphere.ND.v85' version='8.5.5005.20150220_0158' features='core.feature,ejbdeploy,thinclient,embeddablecontainer,com.ibm.sdk.6_64bit'/>
  </install>
  <preference name='com.ibm.cic.common.core.preferences.eclipseCache' value='${sharedLocation}'/>
  <preference name='offering.service.repositories.areUsed' value='false'/>
</agent-input>

I compared/contrasted the highlighted line: -

    <data key='cic.selector.arch' value='x86'/>

with the response file that I was trying to use: -

    <data key='cic.selector.arch' value='x86_64'/>

and changed it accordingly.

It's annoying when things are so simple, especially when it seems counter-intuitive i.e. if one is installing a 64-bit product onto a 64-bit OS, why would one NOT specify x86_64 :-)

Still, it all works now: -

"c:\IBM\Installation Manager\eclipse\tools\imcl.exe" -input z:\DaveHay\Software\Repo\Win\ResponseFiles\installWAS8555_WIN.rsp -acceptLicense

Installed com.ibm.websphere.ND.v85_8.5.5005.20150220_0158 to the C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer directory.

which is nice :-)