Package groups and the shared resource directory

When you install a product package using IBM Installation Manager, you must choose a package group and a shared resource directory.

Package groups

During the installation process, you must specify a package group for the product package. A product package is the DevOps software product that you are installing. A package group represents a directory in which a product package shares resources with other product packages in the same group. When you install the product package using Installation Manager, you can create a package group or install the product packages into an existing package group. Some packages cannot share a package group, in which case the option to use an existing package group is unavailable.

When you install multiple product packages at the same time, you can install the packages into different package groups.

A package group is assigned a name automatically; however, you choose the installation directory for the package group.

After creating the package group by successfully installing a product package, you cannot change the installation directory. The installation directory contains files and resources that are specific to the product package that is installed into that package group. Resources in the product package that other package groups can potentially use are placed in the shared resources directory.

Shared resources directory

The shared resources directory is the directory where installation files are stored so that one or more product package groups can use them. The location of the shared resources directory is configured during the installation of the first product after the installation of the Installation Manager. The location of the shared resources directory cannot be changed as long as one or more products are currently installed, so it is recommended to store the shared resources directory on your largest disk drive. The default value for the shared resources directory is:
  • Windows™: C:\Program Files\IBM\IMShared
  • Linux and UNIX systems: /opt/IBM/IMShared

To change the shared resources directory, you must uninstall all installed packages, then reinstall the packages to the new shared resources directory location.