Preparing for installation

Before you install Informix® database server products, you must prepare your system and plan for choices that you must make during the installation process.

About this task

Preparing for installation includes reviewing system requirements, planning how to upgrade, deciding on the installation owner and the installation directory, reviewing installation options, and gathering information if you want to create a database server during installation. It also includes preinstallation tasks such as obtaining the software and reviewing the machine notes.

Procedure

To prepare for installation:
  1. Obtain the software and configure a License Server to obtain licenses to run Informix.
  2. Review the Informix components that can be installed with the database server.
    You can install all of them or some of them.
  3. Ensure that your computer meets the system requirements.
  4. Choose a user account with which to install the product. The user account becomes the installation owner.
    • UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X: Decide between a non-root owner and an owner with root or administrative privileges.
    • If you plan to install as an administrative user, decide on a password for user informix.
  5. Choose an installation directory.
    If the database server is already installed, decide on the upgrade path.
  6. Decide between a typical or custom installation.
    1. Choose a typical installation in the following cases:
      • To install all database server components, Informix® Client Software Development Kit, and the Informix® JDBC Driver.
      • To create a configured database during installation with connectivity for JSON applications and multiple storage spaces for data.
    2. Choose a custom installation if you want to have any of the following options:
      • To install a subset of database server components.
      • To choose which client products to install.
      • In root-based installation, to set up event auditing for the security policies of your organization.
      • To create a configured database server during installation with one storage space for data.
      • To prepare a response file for a non-interactive installation.

      Depending on your operating system, you can choose other types of installations that have similar options to a custom installation. UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X: You can choose the Legacy installation to prepare a script-based installation. Linux: You can choose the RPM installation to generate an RPM package.

Results

Log files are created during the installation process. You can use the log files to troubleshoot installation errors.

What to do next

After you install the database server, you can create the demonstration databases that are included with the database server. Many examples in the documentation and in the $INFORMIXDIR/demo (UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X) or the %INFORMIXDIR%\demo (Windows) directory are based on the demonstration databases. You can use the demonstration databases to explore database server features. You can create the demonstration databases at any time after installation by running the dbaccessdemo command.

See Demonstration databases.