NAME
inst - software installation tool
SYNOPSIS
inst [ -anAMNQXY ] [ -f source ] [ -m hardware=value ] [ -r target ] [ -u
action ] [ -F selections-file ] [ -I product ] [ -R product ] [ -K
product ] [ -P file ] [ -V resource:value ]
DESCRIPTION
inst is the installation tool used to install, upgrade or remove software
distributed by Silicon Graphics. There are two ways to run inst:
- Invoke inst as a command from the shell.
This is known as invoking inst using ``IRIX Installation'' and you
must be superuser to do this. Some software cannot be installed using
IRIX Installation (Release Notes and inst itself warn you about this
software) and some commands within inst cannot be performed when using
IRIX Installation. This is due to system integrity problems that can
arise from changing some software or performing certain operations
while that software is running.
- Invoke inst in a standalone mode.
To invoke inst in a standalone mode (known as ``Miniroot
Installation''), you shut down the system to the PROM monitor level
(see shutdown(1M)), and load a collection of files known as the
miniroot into the swap partition of your system disk. The miniroot
contains a UNIX kernel, inst and several other programs. inst is
automatically invoked after you load the miniroot and the / and /usr
file systems are automatically mounted as /root and /root/usr. New
versions of IRIX and some software options must be installed from the
miniroot. Directions for loading the miniroot are in the IRIS
Software Installation Guide.
The software that you install using inst is known as a software
distribution. Software distributions are prepared by Silicon Graphics
and are in a format that can be read only by inst.
Software distributions can be on 1/4" cartridge tapes, on CD-ROM discs
(CDs), and on disk. inst can read the distribution from a drive (tape,
CD-ROM or disk) mounted on the same workstation that the software will be
installed on (known as the local workstation), or from a tape drive, CD-
ROM drive or disk on another workstation (known as the remote
workstation) connected to the same network. If a distribution is on
disk, it is in a directory called a distribution directory.
In order to install software from a distribution on a remote workstation
(tape, CD-ROM, or distribution directory), the user ID that you use must
have read permission for the device or distribution directory. By
default, inst uses the current user ID and if the connection can't be
established the user ID ``guest'' is used. For any user ID this requires
that either there is no password for the account on the remote
workstation or that the user ID has been added to the .rhosts file. See
example below. A different user ID can be specified with the -f option
(see below) or the ``from'' command within inst. The user ID for any
account that does not have a password will work if it is able to read the
distribution directory or device. If an account with an assigned
password must be used, the .rhosts file for that user ID on the remote
workstation must contain the name of the local workstation and the user
ID. For example, the file /usr/people/joe/.rhosts on `bigserver' would
contain the line:
rock.csd.sgi.com joe
When joe wants to install C++ on `rock' and the software distribution for
C++ is located on bigserver in the directory /d/newrelease, he would
enter the command:
inst -f joe@bigserver:/d/newrelease/c++
The .rhosts file must have the correct ownership and permissions for
access to be granted. See the hosts.equiv(4) manual page for details.
When using a distribution on a remote workstation, the file
/usr/etc/inetd.conf on the remote workstation and on any gateway
workstations between the local and remote workstation needs to be
modified. See the IRIS Software Installation Guide for details.
When inst first comes up, it displays the default location of the
software distribution and possibly the user ID it is using. When using
IRIX Installation, the default location of the software distribution will
be the location of the software distribution that you last installed.
The -f option (see below) can be used to specify the location of the the
software distribution when IRIX Installation is used. This sets the
default location that will be reported when inst comes up. In the case
of a Miniroot Installation, the default location is wherever the miniroot
came from. If the distribution is none inst will not load one
automatically; this is useful for removing or browsing just the installed
software. Within inst, the ``from'' command can be used to change the
distribution location.
The inst command line options are:
-a Execute inst from IRIX with no interaction from the user (automatic
mode). No menus will appear and the default location of the
software distribution will be used unless the -f option is given.
The software that will be installed will be selected by inst using
an algorithm described in the IRIS Software Installation Guide.
-f source
Specify the location of the software distribution. The format of
source depends on the location of the distribution and other
factors. The possibilities are:
tape local tape drive
/dev/nrtapelocal tape drive
/CDROM/distlocal CD-ROM drive
distdir local distribution directory distdir
/CDROM/dist/product
installing just product from a local CD-ROM drive
distdir/product
installing just product from a local distribution
directory
none for browsing or removing installed software only
server:/dev/tape
tape drive on a remote workstation whose hostname is
server
server:CDdir/dist
CD-ROM drive with the CD mounted at CDdir on a remote
workstation whose hostname is server
server:distdir
distribution directory distdir on a remote workstation
whose hostname is server
server:CDdir/dist/product
installing just product from a CD mounted at CDdir on a
remote workstation whose hostname is server
server:distdir/product
installing just product from a distribution directory
distdir on a remote workstation whose hostname is server
When using a remote distribution source, you can prepend ``user@''
to specify a user ID other than guest as discussed above. For
example, to use a remote tape drive on bigserver as user
``instuser'', the -f argument is ``instuser@bigserver:/dev/tape''.
-r target
Set the effective root directory in which the new software will be
installed. By default, this is /. This option is used to install
software somewhere other than the default location and to specify
the root of a virtual IRIX tree for diskless prototype trees.
-n Initialize the dryrun resource to true. See RESOURCES.
-C Install software for all available architectures. This option is
normally used only by share_inst(1m) when constructing a share-tree
for diskless clients. If -C is given, inst installs the sharable
software for as many different client architectures as possible from
the specified distribution.
-I product
Specify the name of a product to select for installation. Multiple
products are specified by using a comma separated list of the
product names or using multiple -I product options.
-R product
Specify the name of a product to select for removal. Multiple
products are specified by using a comma separated list of the
product names or using multiple -R product options.
-K product
Specify the name of a product to kept. The product will not be
installed or removed. Multiple products are specified by using a
comma separated list of the product names or using multiple -K
product options.
-V resource:value
Initialize resource to value. See RESOURCES.
-M Do not display inst output using its built-in pager, and do not show
percent-done messages. This is the default when running an
automatic install.
-F selections-file
The selections-file is used to pre-select subsystems for
installation or removal. See SELECTIONS FILE.
-P file
Specify file to be precious. See RESOURCES.
-N Disables space-checking by initializing the space_check resource to
false. See RESOURCES.
-u action
Specify the type of installation action to use. The list of
different actions are:
new select all new products for installation.
upgrade select all upgrade products for
installation.
upgrade_and_new select all new and upgrade products for
installation.
upgrade_or_new select upgrade (or new, if no upgrades)
products for installation.
upgrade_and_rnds_or_new select upgrade and related new default
subsystems (or new, if no upgrades) for
installation. [This is the default
action.]
all select all products for installation.
-Xfile
Add file to the list of exclusions. See RESOURCES.
-Yfile
Add file to the list of restrictions. See RESOURCES.
-A A shorthand for -a -u all.
-Q Execute inst in a special mode in which rqs information about each
executable is updated into the installation history.
-m hardware=value
The software distribution for some software products contains
several hardware-specific copies of the same file. By default inst
installs the copy that is appropriate for the type of workstation
you are installing on. The -m option is useful when you are
installing software on a disk that will be transferred to a
different type of workstation or when you are extracting files from
a software distribution for a different type of workstation. In
both these cases you would probably also use the -r option.
Acceptable arguments are:
CPUBOARD=cpu
GFXBOARD=gfxboard
SUBGR=subgr
Acceptable values of cpu are: IP4, IP5, IP6, IP7, IP9, IP12, IP17,
IP19, IP20 and IP22. The output of hinv(1M) gives the value of cpu.
The output of hinv also contains a line describing the type of
graphics on the workstation. Use this table to determine the values
of gfxboard and subgr:
hinv Output cpu gfxboard subgr
Graphics board: GR1* IP6, IP12 ECLIPSE ECLIPSE
Graphics board: GR2-* IP12, IP20 EXPRESS EXPRESS
Graphics board: GR2-* IP17 EXPRESS IP17
Graphics board: GR3-* IP22 EXPRESS EXPRESS
Graphics board: GU1-* IP17 EXPRESS IP17
Graphics board: GU1-* IP22 EXPRESS EXPRESS
Graphics board: GU1-* and XLIP22 NEWPRESS NEWPRESS
Graphics board: LG1 IP12 LIGHT LIGHT
Graphics board: LG1 IP17 LIGHT IP17
Graphics board: LG1 IP20 LIGHT LG1MC
Graphics board: XL IP22 NEWPORT NG1
Graphics board: Indy *-bit IP22 NEWPORT NG1
Graphics board: VGR2 IP6, IP12 ECLIPSE ECLIPSE
Graphics option installed IP4 CLOVER1 IP4G
GT Graphics option installed IP4, IP5, IP7 CLOVER2 cpuGT
GT Graphics option installed IP9 CLOVER2 IP7GT
GT Graphics option installed IP17 CLOVER2 IP17
VGX Graphics option installed IP7, IP9 STAPUFT IP7GT
VGX Graphics option installed IP17 STAPUFT IP17
VGXT Graphics option installed IP7 STAPUFT SKYWR
VGXT Graphics option installed IP17 STAPUFT IP17SKY
RealityEngine Graphics option IP7 VENICE IP7
installed
RealityEngine Graphics option IP17 VENICE IP17
installed
RealityEngine Graphics option IP19 VENICE IP19
installed
No ``Graphics'' line any SERVER SERVER
* output contains additional text that is unimportant
The values of CPUBOARD, GFXBOARD, and SUBGR default to the values
for the workstation you are installing on if they are not specified.
When the software distribution is a CD in a remote CD-ROM drive, the
program cdinstmgr(1) must be run on the remote workstation. It does the
mounting of the CD and guards against accidental ejection of the CD by
other users. When the software distribution is a CD in a local CD-ROM
drive, the mounting of the CD is done automatically by inst.
Unless the -a option is given, a menu of commands will be displayed when
inst is invoked. This menu, the Inst Main Menu, contains all of the
commands that most inst users will ever need. Another menu, the
Administrative Commands Menu, contains rarely used commands. A third
menu, the Interrupt/Error Menu, is displayed automatically when certain
error conditions are encountered during installation. These menus and
their commands are described fully in the IRIS Software Installation
Guide.
inst has an extensive online help system. Enter the command ``help'' at
the inst prompt to see the list of help topics. To view the information
on a particular topic, enter the command ``help topic''. The topic
``beginner'' provides information about what inst does and how to use it.
This is a good starting point for new users.
The IRIS Software Installation Guide is the reference manual for inst.
Installation issues for specific products are discussed in the Release
Notes for the different products.
RESOURCES
A number of resources are available for customizing inst and swmgr.
Resources are loaded from /var/inst/.swmgrrc, /.swmgrrc, ~/.swmgrrc, and
from the command line, with command-line definitions having the highest
precedence.
The keywords in the following descriptions are:
inst-only used only by inst(1M)
swmgr-only used only by swmgr(1M)
permanent saved across sessions
transient not saved across sessions
beginner most commonly used
expert for experts only
hidden for internal use or for debugging
readonly may not be modified by the
abort_on_error
Abort automatic installation on errors
Type: boolean (inst-only permanent expert)
Default: true
Controls how errors are handled during automatic installations. If
"true" (the default) the installation terminates immediately. If
"false" the installation continues. In either case the errors are
reported in /var/inst/INSTLOG.
all_architectures
Install all architectures
Type: boolean (transient readonly hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether files for all architectures are installed. This
preference applies during diskless share-tree or client-tree
installations, and can only be set with the -C command-line option.
See client_inst(1).
always_confirm_quit
Confirm quit action
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: false
Controls whether the user is always asked for confirmation of a quit
command.
auto_inst_new
Select new products in automatic mode
Type: boolean (swmgr-only permanent expert)
Default: false
Controls whether new products are selected for installation in
automatic mode (swmgr only.)
auto_inst_upgrades
Select upgrade products in automatic mode
Type: boolean (swmgr-only permanent expert)
Default: true
Controls whether upgrade products are selected for installation in
automatic mode (swmgr only.)
autoconfig_overhead
Autoconfig overhead, in blocks
Type: int (transient hidden)
Default: 350
Controls the number of blocks reserved during the installation for
temporary disk space required by autoconfig(1M) to build a new
kernel. Under special circumstances when a debug kernel is being
built, this value should be doubled.
automatic
Automatic installation
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether the installation proceeds without user
intervention.
autoselect
Automatic installation selections
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: true
Controls whether inst does an initial selection of subsystems to be
installed when it is first started and after every "from" command.
background
Background the application
Type: boolean (swmgr-only permanent expert)
Default: true
Controls whether swmgr is run in the foreground or in the background
when invoked from a shell.
beep Beep when installation completes
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: true
Controls the audible signaling at the end of the "go" command.
busy_check
Busy file space checking
Type: boolean (transient expert)
Default: true
Controls whether busy files (those which are currently accessed by
executing processes) are considered during the pre-installation
space check. If busy files are removed or overwritten during the
installation, their disk blocks are not immediately reclaimed by the
operating system. Closing other applications before a live-install
may be required in order for the disk space requirements to be met.
In the miniroot, the busy check is always skipped.
checkpoint_debug
Checkpoint debugging
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether detailed debug information relating to the
checkpointing mechanism is displayed.
checkpoint_restart
Automatically restart install if true
Type: boolean (transient expert)
Default: false
Used for checkpoint restarting. Automatically restart installation
if set true.
checkpoint_restart_mode
Override normal checkpoint restart mode
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: NULL
Specifies the initial user interface mode used for checkpoint
restarting. Brings up swmgr in a specific mode overriding value set
by user in custom_startup_mode.
checkpoint_selections
Checkpoint before go as well as during go
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: false
Controls whether or not to checkpoint the selections during the
selection process. This is useful when making complex selections
worth saving.
clearprompt
Clear the "more?" prompt
Type: boolean (inst-only permanent)
Default: true
Controls the way in which some prompts are displayed. Certain
operations use "throw away" prompts that are usually cleared by
backspacing, then overwriten with spaces. For terminals that can't
clear prompts in this way, it is more appropriate to just move to
the next line. Set clearprompt "off" to use the simple case. It is
"on" by default and saved from session to session.
columns
Number of columns in tty display
Type: int (inst-only permanent)
Default: 0
The "columns" variable is not supported in this release, but will be
supported in a future release. In this release the number of columns
is automatically detected by inst (if possible), but cannot be
overridden.
cmd_installs
Command-line install selections
Type: string (transient hidden readonly)
Default: NULL
List of products to install supplied on the command line.
cmd_keeps
Command-line keep selections
Type: string (transient hidden readonly)
Default: NULL
List of products to keep supplied on the command line.
cmd_patch_hist_removes
Command-line remove selections
Type: string (transient hidden readonly)
Default: NULL
List of patch products to remove history supplied on the command
line.
cmd_removes
Command-line remove selections
Type: string (transient hidden readonly)
Default: NULL
List of products to remove supplied on the command line.
confirm_quit
Confirm quit if pending actions
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: true
Controls whether the user is notified that install/remove actions
are pending when quitting.
custom_startup_mode
Swmgr initial selections mode
Type: choice (permanent expert)
Choices: off,distribution,always
Default: false
Controls how swmgr is initially presented. Possible values are: off
- always start in automatic mode; distribution - start in custom-
selections mode if a distribution has been specified, otherwise in
automatic mode; always - start in custom-selections mode if a
distribution has been specified, otherwise in manage-installed-
software mode.
debug
General debugging
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether general debugging information is displayed.
debug_menu
Debug menu
Type: boolean (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether the debug menu is available in the graphical tool.
default_config
Force default configuration files
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: false
Controls whether to override the normal configuration file rules,
and install ALL the configuration files from the distribution. If
the user has modified these files, they are first saved with a ".O"
suffix.
default_sharedirs
Default share directories
Type: string (transient readonly expert)
Default: /usr
Contains the list of default share directories used in a diskless
share-tree or client-tree installation.
delayspacecheck
Delay disk space checks until go
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: false
Controls the timing of disk space calculations. If
"delayspacecheck" is "off", disk space calculation is done when a
"list", "step", or "space" command is given if no disk space
calculation has yet been done for the current software distribution.
If "delayspacecheck" is "on", disk space calculation is deferred
until the "go" or "space" commands are given. When
"delayspacecheck" is "on", no disk space information is displayed by
the "list" or "step" commands.
diskless
Diskless mode
Type: choice (transient readonly hidden)
Choices: none,share,client
Default: none
Controls whether the tool is operating on a normal (non-diskless)
tree, a diskless share tree, or a diskless client tree.
detailspacecheck
Detailed space checking
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: off
Controls the data used for disk space calculations. If
"detailspacecheck" is "on", size and type of every file installed on
the system via inst is obtained by stat-ing the file on the disk. If
"detailspacecheck" is "off", the state of every file is assumed to
be the same as that saved in the history database and that
information is used to make the disk space calculations.
"detailspacecheck" is slower, but more accurate.
display_legend
Display list legend
Type: boolean (inst-only permanent)
Default: true
Controls whether the legend is displayed at the beginning of the
output of the list command.
display_size
Units for product sizes
Type: choice (inst-only transient)
Choices: bytes,blocks,kbytes
Default: kbytes
Controls the units (bytes, kilobytes, or 512-byte blocks) used to
display product sizes.
display_subtasks
Print tasking information
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether detailed information about tasks and sub-tasks is
displayed.
dist Most recent distribution source
Type: string (permanent)
Default: NULL
Each time product descriptions are read, the current software
distribution source (see help from) becomes the value of "dist". (A
product name, if included in the "from" argument, is not saved in
"dist".) You can use the value of "dist" in your "from" commands
using the syntax "$dist", for example "from $dist/eoe2". The value
of dist is saved from session to session.
distribution
The name of the distribution supplied by the user.
Type: string (transient hidden readonly)
Default: NULL
This is the name of the distribution supplied by the user on the
command line.
dryrun
Dryrun mode
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether operating in dryrun mode. In this mode, no files
are touched on the disk, and the names of files which would have
otherwise been installed or removed are displayed.
error_coredump
Force coredump on X errors
Type: boolean (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether errors in the X-Window interface result in an
immediate coredump.
error.display_verbosity
Error message threshold
Type: int (permanent expert)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 1
Controls the level of error messages displayed. 0 for quiet, 1 for
moderate, 2 for noisy.
error.header
Error message prefix
Type: string (permanent readonly hidden)
Default: ERROR
This string is prepended to all error messages.
error.log_verbosity
Error message log threshold
Type: int (permanent expert)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 2
This resource controls the level of error messages written to the
log file. 0 for quiet, 1 for moderate, 2 for noisy.
exclusions
List of excluded files
Type: string (transient readonly hidden)
Default: NULL
This resource holds the list of excluded files. Excluded files (and,
for directories, their descendents) are not installed or removed
during a "go". The -X command line option may be used to specify the
exclusions. See restrictions.
explorer_debug
Explorer debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether detailed debug information relating to the local
filesystem is displayed.
fatal.display_verbosity
Fatal message display threhold
Type: int (permanent hidden)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 1
This resource controls the level of fatal error messages displayed.
0 for quiet, 1 for moderate, 2 for noisy.
fatal.header
Fatal message prefix
Type: string (permanent readonly hidden)
Default: FATAL
This string is prepended to all fatal error messages.
fatal.log_verbosity
Fatal message log threshold
Type: int (permanent hidden)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 2
Controls the level of fatal messages written to the log file. 0 for
quiet, 1 for moderate, 2 for noisy.
file_debug
File level debugging.
Type: multivalue (transient hidden)
Choices: none,perm,space,io,config,orphan,patch,all
Default: NULL
This resource controls file level debugging "perm" permissions
"space" space check "io" file I/O "config" config files "config"
orphan "patch" patch files "all" all of the above
disk_avail
Force available space in disk calculations
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: 0k
Sets the amount of space available on each filesystem. For debugging
only.
from_versions
Called from versions?
Type: boolean (inst-only transient)
Default: false
Set to TRUE when inst was called in automatic mode from "versions
remove".
fullmenu
Display hidden commands
Type: boolean (inst-only permanent)
Default: false
Controls the list of commands shown in menus. If fullmenu is "off",
(the default), the most commonly used commands are displayed in the
menus. If fullmenu is "on", all commands that are available at the
prompt are shown in the menu, and all the hidden commands are
displayed, too. This option changes only the display of commands,
not their availability. It is "off" by default and saved from
session to session.
fuzzy.display_verbosity
Fuzzy message display threshold
Type: int (permanent hidden)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 0
Controls the level of fuzzy messages displayed. Fuzzy messages are
seen in the status area of swmgr, and reflect the current state of
the application. 0 for quiet, 1 for moderate, 2 for noisy.
fuzzy.header
Fuzzy message prefix
Type: string (permanent readonly hidden)
Default: NULL
This string is prepended to all fuzzy messages. Fuzzy messages are
seen in the status area of swmgr, and reflect the current state of
the application.
fuzzy.log_verbosity
Fuzzy message log threshold
Type: int (permanent hidden)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 1
Controls the level of fuzzy messages written to the log file. 0 for
quiet, 1 for moderate, 2 for noisy.
hide_image_products
Hides the image level products when set to true.
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: true
Hides the image level products from view when set to true.
hide_tasks
Inhibits the output of any tasking information from tty only.
Type: boolean (transient hidden readonly)
Default: false
Inhibits the output of any tasking information from tty only.
inst_overhead
Installation overhead, in blocks
Type: int (transient readonly hidden)
Default: 100
Controls the number of blocks reserved during the installation for
files written into the /var/inst directory, with the exception of
the history file (/var/inst/hist) and the rqs database
(/var/inst/.rqsfiles) which are handled separately.
inst_visible_resources
Set of options to display.
Type: multivalue (inst-only permanent)
Choices: permanent,transient,expert,tty
Default: permanent,transient,tty
Controls the set of preferences displayed with the set command.
info.display_verbosity
Info message threshold
Type: int (permanent expert)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 0
Controls the level of informational messages displayed. 0 for
quiet, 1 for moderate, 2 for noisy.
info.header
Info message prefix
Type: string (permanent readonly hidden)
Default: NULL
This string is prepended to all informational messages.
info.log_verbosity
Info message log threshold
Type: int (permanent expert)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 1
Controls the level of informational messages written to the log
file. 0 for quiet, 1 for moderate, 2 for noisy.
inst_file_debug
File-level debugging
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls file debug.
inst_initial_level
Inst product display level
Type: choice (permanent expert)
Choices: product,subsystem
Default: subsystem
Controls the initial level of products displayed in inst.
install_action
Initial selections action
Type: choice (transient hidden)
Choices:
none,upgrade,new,all,selections,cmd_selections,skip,checkpoint,upgrade_and_new,upgrade_or_new
Default: none
Controls which items are selected for install/remove.
install_identical_files
Skip install of identical files
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: true
Controls whether to extract files from the distribution even if the
version on disk has the same size and checksum. If this resource is
set to "false" installations are much faster when little has changed
from release to release.
install_sites
List of former install sites
Type: string (permanent expert)
Default: NULL
Controls the list of former installation sites displayed.
install_sites_size
Number of items to keep in the install sites list.
Type: int (permanent)
Default: 10
Controls the number of items in the former installation sites list.
instgui_debug
Controls debug mode for swmgr
Type: boolean (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls debug mode for swmgr
instmode
Type of installation
Type: choice (transient readonly hidden)
Choices: normal,prototype,client
Default: prototype
Controls certain details of how the installation is performed. The
value is set automatically when the distribution is first accessed.
instmode is used for exitops. During a miniroot installation, value
is "normal". During a diskless-client installation, value is
"client".
iprodaction_debug
Controls iProdAction debugging
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls iProdAction debugging
iproddesc_debug
Controls iProdDesc debugging
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls iProdDesc debugging
interactive
User interaction control
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: true
Controls whether the user will be prompted for responses to
questions.
killfile
Kill filename
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: .kill
Controls the name of the kill file.
lines
Number of lines in tty display
Type: int (inst-only permanent)
Default: 0
Sorry, the "lines" variable is not supported in this release, but
will be supported in a future release. In this release the number
of lines is automatically detected by inst (if possible), but cannot
be overridden.
load_envs
Load old inst environment variables
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Used for compatiblity with the old inst. If "on", certain
environment variables are loaded and used.
log_active
Controls if logging is performed.
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: true
Controls if logging is performed.
logfile
Name of the logfile
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: NULL
Controls the name of the log file.
logfile_size
Size of log in bytes before recycle
Type: int (permanent hidden)
Default: 10000
Controls the size of the log file before the log is rotated.
log_pane_height
Height of the log pane in swmgr
Type: int (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: 125
Specifies the height of the log pane in swmgr.
log_pane_log_size
Size of the log pane display
Type: int (swmgr-only permanent hidden)
Default: 100000
Specifies the maximum amount of text that is displayed in the log
pane before truncation occurs.
mach_classfile
Mach classes file
Type: string (transient hidden readonly)
Default: /var/boot/.dl_classes
Holds the name of the file containing the hardware chart used during
diskless installations when the -C argument is specified, requesting
that all architectures be installed.
mach_info
mach tag cmd line opts
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: NULL
Controls the mach tag command line options.
machfile
Name of the standard mach file.
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: /var/inst/machfile
Controls the location of the standard machfile.
max_op_output_bytes
Sub-command output limit
Type: int (transient hidden)
Default: 10000
Controls the maximum amount of output, in bytes, allowed from a
preop, postop or exitop.
network_seek_threshold
Controls behavior of remote seek
Type: int (transient hidden)
Default: 65536
If seeking forward more than network_seek_threshold bytes in a
remote file, re-start the dd process instead of reading and
discarding the intervening bytes. This optimization of re-starting
dd may be disabled by setting network_seek_threshold to zero. If the
remote dd does not support the iseek option, network_seek_threshold
is always treated as zero.
confirm_nfs_installs
Confirm installs onto nfs-mounted filesystems
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: on
Controls installs onto nfs-mounted filesystems. If set to "on", the
user is asked to confirm any installations to nfs-mounted
directories located on another host. When set to "off", inst or
swmgr will install on to nfs-mounted filesystems as long as the user
has the necessary permissions.
menus
Print menus
Type: boolean (inst-only permanent)
Default: on
Controls the automatic display of menus. Once you are familiar with
the menus, you may wish to disable the automatic display by setting
this option "off". You can redisplay the current menu at any time
with a "?" command. It is "on" by default and saved from session to
session.
miniroot
Miniroot install
Type: boolean (transient hidden readonly)
Default: false
This flag is on if in the miniroot.
mock_sproc
Disable sprocs
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
When set, this disables sproc'ing, so that debugging is possible.
The command is printed on stdout, and execution terminates until
something is read from stdin.
network_retry
Number of network retries
Type: int (permanent hidden)
Default: 2
Holds the number of successive network timeouts allowed before
giving up on the connection. See timeout.
timeout
Network timeout in seconds
Type: int (permanent)
Default: 120
Holds the amount of time to wait for a reply from a remote host. If
the remote machine does not respond after this time, the request is
attempted again. See network_retry. The default is two minutes; if
your network is particularly slow, this may not be enough. If you
receive errors regarding the network timeout, and you believe the
access will succeed if given more time, increase the value of this
option. The value of timeout is saved from session to session.
never_resize_pane
Do not resize panes when switching selections modes
Type: boolean (swmgr-only permanent expert)
Default: true
Controls whether to resize panes when switching between automatic
installation and custom selections or manage installed software
modes in swmgr.
neweroverride
Allows installation of older products
Type: boolean (transient)
Default: false
Controls whether older subsystems can replace newer subsystems that
are installed. The default value, "off", prevents you from
installing subsystems that are older than what is already installed
(i.e. are marked "O" in "list" and "step" output). If you want to
replace a subsystem with an older version, set "neweroverride" to
"on". This option is not saved from inst session to inst session.
non_root
Not root user can perform installs/removals
Type: boolean (transient hidden readonly)
Default: false
Controls if a non-root user can perform installs/removals.
overprint
Use overprinting for verbose lists
Type: boolean (inst-only permanent)
Default: true
Controls the manner in which pathnames are displayed during verbose
installations and removals. When this option is on, scrolling the
display is significantly reduced by overprinting the file names on
the same line whenever possible. If you prefer scrolling as the
file names are displayed, set this option "off". It is "on" by
default and saved from session to session.
rulesoverride
Override any conflict
Type: boolean (transient)
Default: false
Controls whether conflicts can be overridden. The default value,
"off", prevents you from installing subsystems that do not meet
specified incompat or prereq rules. If you want to override these
rules, set "rulesoverride" to "on". This option should be used
cautiously. "rulesoverride" is not saved from session to session.
override_space_check
Override space checking
Type: boolean (transient expert)
Default: false
If set to true, allows "go" despite a disk overflow condition.
page_output
Page output
Type: boolean (inst-only transient)
Default: true
Controls whether tty output is managed by a paging mechanism similar
to more(1m).
always_page_inst
Controls whether not explicitly requested
Type: boolean (inst-only transient expert)
Default: false
inst output, such as progress messages during actual installation,
are paged or display non-stop.
perm_check
Permissions check
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: true
Controls whether permissions-checking is performed during the pre-
installation check. When this option is true, the inst or swmgr will
inform you during the pre-installation check whether you have
permission to install or remove files in the affected directories.
post_install_dialog
Ask about quit after install
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: true
Controls if a dialog is displayed after an install asking if the
user wants to quit.
precious_files
List of precious files
Type: string (transient expert)
Default: NULL
Holds the list of precious file separated by whitespace, specified
on the cmd-line or .swmgrrc. The inst or swmgr will not overwrite or
remove any files which the user has designated as precious.
prodaction_eval_debug
Controls display info during eval
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls display info during eval
promptforid
Interactive prompt for unknown uid
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: false
Controls whether the user will be interactively queried for ids
corresponding to unknown uids/gids. Unknown uids or gids result when
a passwd or group file does not contain an id for the given name.
If "off", inst or swmgr will automatically choose the uids/gids (and
write them to /usr/adm/SYSLOG) based on the startid variable.
remote_read_size
Controls the size of the buffer used for reading remote
Type: int (transient hidden)
Default: 10240
distributions. Controls the size of the buffer used for reading
remote distributions.
report_exit_status
Set process exit status
Type: boolean (permanent hidden)
Default: false
Controls the exit status to be set to various non-zero values,
depending on what caused the exit.
restricted
Restricted mod
Type: boolean (inst-only transient hidden)
Default: false
This resource controls restricted mode in inst.
restrictions
List of restricted files
Type: string (transient readonly hidden)
Default: NULL
Holds the list of restricted files. Restricted files (and, for
directories, their descendents) are the only files installed or
removed during a go. The -Y command line option may be used to
specify the restrictions. See exclusions.
rqs_only
Requickstart mode
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls if the only operation performed is rqs Controls if the only
operation performed is rqs
rules_debug
Controls general rules debugging
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls general rules debugging
rules_disable_defaults
Rules debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls rules debugging
rules_disable_emptyTryAll
Rules debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls rules debugging
rules_disable_emptyTryDefaults
Rules debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls rules debugging
rules_disable_replaces
Rules debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls rules debugging
rules_enable_allkids
Rules debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls rules debugging
rules_include_rejected_defaults
Rules debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls rules debugging
rules_nonbootable_ok
Rules debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls rules debugging
rules_verbose_debug
Rules debug
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls rules debugging
selections_file
Selection file with install/remove commands
Type: string (transient expert)
Default: NULL
Holds the name of the selections file which contains install/remove
commands.
selections_pane_height
Height of the selections pane
Type: int (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: 350
Specifies the height of the selections pane.
set_path
Control $PATH variable for exitops
Type: choice (permanent expert)
Choices: default,environment,specific
Default: default
Holds set_path = { default | environment | specific } default: set
path to a known path. environment: pass $path in from the
environment $PATH (or use the default path if $PATH is not set)
specific: use whatever is in the preference set_path_specific
set_path_specific
Path used for exitops
Type: string (permanent expert)
Default: NULL
Controls the path used for exitops.
shadow_files
List of files to shadow
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: NULL
Holds the list of shadow files, separated by whitespace, specified
on the command line or .swmgrrc
shadowing
File shadowing
Type: boolean (transient hidden readonly)
Default: NULL
Controls whether special files are shadowed during a live (non-
miniroot) install.
sharebase
Root of sharetree in client mode
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: NULL
Holds the name of the root of sharetree in client mode.
shell
Program to use for "sh" and "shroot"
Type: string (permanent)
Default: /bin/csh
Controls what program to use for "sh" and "shroot". It may be any
pathname, and is the name of the IRIX command that is invoked for
"sh" and "shroot" commands. It is normally /bin/sh or /bin/csh; the
default value comes from the SHELL environment variable. It is saved
from session to session.
short_names
Display product name instead of description.
Type: boolean (permanent)
Default: false
Controls if the product name is displayed instead of the product
description in swmgr.
show_command_pane
Display the command pane on startup
Type: boolean (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether the command pane is shown on startup.
show_absolute_sizes
Display absolute product sizes
Type: boolean (inst-only transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls the type of information shown in the size column in the
output of the "list" and "step" commands. If this variable is set to
"on", the total product size is shown. Otherwise the net change in
product size (after the installation and removals) is shown.
show_distribution_pane
Display the distribution pane on startup
Type: boolean (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: true
Controls whether the distribution pane is shown on startup.
show_existing_conflicts
Display pre-existing conflicts
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether pre-existing conflicts are displayed or not.
show_files
Display filenames during install
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: false
Controls whether the name of each file is displayed as it is
installed or removed.
show_hidden_resources
Hide or present all preferences
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: false
Controls whether the user is presented with the expert preferences,
in addition to the basic preferences.
show_lint
Show distribution consistency errors
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: false
Controls whether to display any inconsistencies found while reading
the distribution.
show_log_pane
Display the log pane on startup
Type: boolean (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether the log pane is displayed in swmgr on startup.
show_percent_done
Display task percentages
Type: boolean (inst-only transient expert)
Default: true
Controls whether percent-done messages are displayed in inst.
show_selections_pane
Display the selections pane on startup
Type: boolean (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: true
Controls whether the selections pane is shown on startup.
show_stat_pane
Display the status pane on startup
Type: boolean (swmgr-only transient hidden)
Default: true
Controls whether the status pane is shown on startup.
showMallocInfo
Debug resource show hist malloc info
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls the display of malloc info.
skip_rqs
Skip the requickstart process entirely
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether to skip the requickstart process. Use this
cautiously, because non-requickstarted executables will run much
slower.
space_check
Controls space checking
Type: boolean (transient)
Default: true
Controls whether disk space checking is performed Use cautiously, or
you can run out of diskspace.
space_indicator
Type of space indicator
Type: choice (swmgr-only permanent)
Choices: pie,bar,text
Default: pie
Controls the display of the space area, whether bar, pie or text.
stat_debug
stat/fstat debugging
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether detailed debugging information relating to stat(2)
and fstat(2) calls is displayed.
swmgr_initial_level
Swmgr product display level
Type: choice (swmgr-only permanent expert)
Choices: product,subsystem
Default: product
Controls the initial level of products displayed in swmgr.
swmgr_visible_resources
Set of optional preferences to display.
Type: multivalue (swmgr-only permanent beginner)
Choices: none,transient,expert
Default: none
Controls the set of optional preferences displayed in the
preferences dialog.
symlink_mode
Create a symlink tree
Type: boolean (transient readonly hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether the inst or swmgr operates in symlink mode. In this
mode, all files (but not directories, config files, or noshare
files) are installed as absolute symbolic links pointing to the
corresponding file in the real tree. See symlink_root.
symlink_root
Root of real tree
Type: string (transient readonly hidden)
Default: NULL
Holds the root of the real tree that symlinks point to, This
preference only be set on the command line. See symlink_mode.
tape_debug
tape debugging
Type: boolean (transient hidden)
Default: false
Controls whether detailed debugging information relating to tape
distributions is printed.
target
Location of target tree
Type: string (transient hidden readonly)
Default: /
Holds the name of the root directory on the local filesystem where
files are installed or removed. Swmgr and inst do not install or
remove files outside of the target. Normally during a live
installation, the target is /, and in the miniroot it is /root. The
-r command line option may be used to specify an alternate target.
taskfile
Name of the tasklog
Type: string (transient hidden)
Default: NULL
This resource controls the name of the log file where task
information is written.
toolname
Name of invoked installation program.
Type: string (transient hidden readonly)
Default: NULL
Holds the name of the installation program (inst or swmgr).
trace
Trace debugging
Type: multivalue (permanent hidden)
Choices:
none,constructor,destructor,general,resource,errno,task,conflict,mach,remote,dispatcher,diskless,space,prod
Default: NULL
Controls which type of tracing information is displayed.
startid
Initial id to assign for an unknown uid/gid
Type: int (permanent)
Default: 60000
This variable is only relevant if promptforid = "off". Inst or swmgr
will automatically assign unknown uid/gid values based on the value
of startid. After a given unknown uid or gid is assigned the value
startid, the next unknown uid/gid will be assigned startid-1, and
the next startid-2, etc. It is recommended that startid be assigned
a value that no current uids/gids possess. If inst or swmgr
automatically assigns a uid or gid to a file, it will write the
mapping to /usr/adm/SYSLOG.
use_last_dist
Use last distribution
Type: boolean (swmgr-only permanent expert)
Default: false
Use the last distribution specified if none is specified this
session. If no distribution was specified for this session,
automatically load the last distribution seen (swmgr only.)
verbose
Print filenames during installation
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: false
Sorry, the "verbose" variable is not supported in this release, but
will be supported in a future release. Try "set
info.display_verbosity 2" and "set show_files true" instead.
verboselist
Verbose product and image listing
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: false
Sorry, the "verboselist" variable is not supported in this release,
but will be supported in a future release. Try "set
info.display_verbosity 2" and "set show_files true" instead.
verboserm
Display filenames during removals
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: false
Sorry, the "verboserm" variable is not supported in this release,
but will be supported in a future release. Try "set
info.display_verbosity 2" and "set show_files true" instead.
verify_checksum
Verify checksum of file during install
Type: boolean (permanent expert)
Default: on
During the installation, verify the checksum of each file as it is
uncompressed or read from the archive.
warning.display_verbosity
Warning message display threshold
Type: int (permanent expert)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 0
Controls the level of warning messages displayed. 0 for quiet, 1
for moderate, 2 for noisy.
warning.header
String prepended to all warning messages
Type: string (permanent readonly hidden)
Default: WARNING
Holds the string prepended to all warning messages.
warning.log_verbosity
Warning message log threshold
Type: int (permanent expert)
Choices: 0,1,2
Default: 1
Controls the level of warning messages written to the log file. 0
for quiet, 1 for moderate, 2 for noisy.
wrapmode
Wrap/truncate long lines in display
Type: choice (inst-only permanent)
Choices: wrap,truncate
Default: wrap
Controls the display of long subsystem descriptions by the "list"
command. In wrap mode, the part of the description that overflows
the right margin of the screen is shown indented on the next line.
In truncate mode, the line is truncated near the right margin. The
"step" command always uses truncate mode, regardless of the setting
of this option. It is "wrap" by default and saved from session to
session.
SELECTIONS FILE
A selections-file can be used to pre-select subsystems for installation
or removal; or as a script for an automatic installation using inst(1M).
Blank lines, and comment lines beginning with a pound-sign (#) are
ignored. Other lines contain directives, which are processed in the
order that they appear in the file.
from <distribution>
install <subsys> <subsys> ...
don't install <subsys> <subsys> ...
remove <subsys> <subsys> ...
don't remove <subsys> <subsys> ...
set <resource> <value>
FILES
/var/inst/.swmgrrc most recent values of ``set'' options
/var/inst/help source for online help
/var/inst/hist binary file that contains the installation
history of your workstation
/var/inst/<product> binary files, one per product available in any
distribution (or since last time file systems
were remade)
SEE ALSO
distcp(1M), versions(1M), swmgr(1M), showprods(1M), showfiles(1M)
Software Installation Administrator's Guide.