Silent installation

A silent installation is one that you run from the command line to automatically install Crystal Enterprise on any machine in your system, without the installation program prompting for information during the installation. To install silently, you run an msiexec command from the command line. The command must include a series of parameters that provide information for installation settings and directory paths.

The silent Crystal Enterprise installation is particularly useful when you need to perform multiple installations and do not want to interrupt people who are working on machines in your system. You can also use the silent installation command in your own scripts. For example, if your organization uses scripts to install software on machines, you can add the silent Crystal Enterprise installation command to your scripts.

The silent installation command consists of the command msiexec, followed by the location of the installation executable file, and a number of parameters that provide information about the installation. The following example installs Crystal Enterprise with the CMS onto the myserver machine:

Msiexec /i "\\mynetworkfolder\Crystal Decisions\Enterprise10\cer.msi" REBOOT=ReallySuppress /qn+ INSTALLLEVEL=5 PIDKEY=A1234-ABCD123-12345A6 DATABASEUSER=sa DATABASEPWD=mypassword INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\Crystal Decisions\Enterprise 10" CRYSTALDECISIONSCOMMONFOLDER="C:\Program Files\Common Files\Crystal Decisions\Enterprise 10"

The example uses the most common parameters. You can choose any number of valid parameters, but it is good practice to keep the silent installation as simple as possible.

The following table lists the most common parameters used in a silent installation. To use a parameter, place it on the command line after the msiexec command and the path for the installation files.

Installation parameter Description

INSTALLDIR="filepath"

Specifies the machine and directory where you want to install the new Crystal Enterprise components. Replace filepath with the full path for the installation directory. For example, "C:\Program Files\Crystal Decisions\Crystal Enterprise 10".

CRYSTALDECISIONS
COMMONFOLDER="filepath"

Specifies the machine and directory where you want to store the common files directory created during the installation. Replace filepath with the full path for the common files directory. For example, "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Crystal Decisions\Crystal Enterprise 10".

PIDKEY=00000-0000000-0000000

Specifies your product activation keycode.

DATABASEUSER=myusername

If you're using SQL Server, use this parameter to specify the user name for the database you'll be using for Crystal Enterprise.

DATABASEPWD=mypassword

If you're using SQL Server, use this parameter to specify the administrator password for the database you'll be using for Crystal Enterprise.

DATABASEDRIVER=
"OracleDatabaseSubsystem"

If you do not use SQL Server, include this parameter to identify the type of database. This example specifies Oracle as the database. Other valid values for this parameter include "DB2DatabaseSubSystem" and "SybaseDatabaseSubSystem".

DATABASECONNECT=
"DSN=OracleNetServiceName;
UID=OracleUserName;
PWD=OraclePassword"

If you do not use SQL Server, include this parameter to provide your connection information. This example uses a native Oracle connection. The DSN value is the service name configured in the Oracle Client.
For a DB2 native connection, the DSN value is the database alias configured in the DB2 Client Configuration Assistant.

INSTALLLEVEL=5

Determines which Crystal Enterprise components are installed. If you set the install level parameter to 5, all components will be installed. If you set this parameter to 3, all components except the CMS will be installed. For SDK installations, use install level 4.

REBOOT=ReallySuppress

Prevents Crystal Enterprise from prompting the user to reboot the machine.

/qn+

Performs the installation silently, but prompts the user when the installation is complete.

/qn

Performs the installation silently, without prompting the user.

NOMSDE=1

Crystal Enterprise installs the MSDE by default. To remove the MSDE from the installation, add this parameter and set it to 1. To keep the MSDE in the installation, do not add this parameter to the command.

Installation parameter	Description
INSTALLDIR="filepath"	Specifies the machine and directory where you want to install the new Crystal Enterprise components. Replace filepath with the full path for the installation directory. For example, "C:\Program Files\Crystal Decisions\Crystal Enterprise 10".
CRYSTALDECISIONS COMMONFOLDER="filepath"	Specifies the machine and directory where you want to store the common files directory created during the installation. Replace filepath with the full path for the common files directory. For example, "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Crystal Decisions\Crystal Enterprise 10".
PIDKEY=00000-0000000-0000000	Specifies your product activation keycode.
DATABASEUSER=myusername	If you're using SQL Server, use this parameter to specify the user name for the database you'll be using for Crystal Enterprise.
DATABASEPWD=mypassword	If you're using SQL Server, use this parameter to specify the administrator password for the database you'll be using for Crystal Enterprise.
DATABASEDRIVER= "OracleDatabaseSubsystem"	If you do not use SQL Server, include this parameter to identify the type of database. This example specifies Oracle as the database. Other valid values for this parameter include "DB2DatabaseSubSystem" and "SybaseDatabaseSubSystem".
DATABASECONNECT= "DSN=OracleNetServiceName; UID=OracleUserName; PWD=OraclePassword"	If you do not use SQL Server, include this parameter to provide your connection information. This example uses a native Oracle connection. The DSN value is the service name configured in the Oracle Client. For a DB2 native connection, the DSN value is the database alias configured in the DB2 Client Configuration Assistant.
INSTALLLEVEL=5	Determines which Crystal Enterprise components are installed. If you set the install level parameter to 5, all components will be installed. If you set this parameter to 3, all components except the CMS will be installed. For SDK installations, use install level 4.
REBOOT=ReallySuppress	Prevents Crystal Enterprise from prompting the user to reboot the machine.
/qn+	Performs the installation silently, but prompts the user when the installation is complete.
/qn	Performs the installation silently, without prompting the user.
NOMSDE=1	Crystal Enterprise installs the MSDE by default. To remove the MSDE from the installation, add this parameter and set it to 1. To keep the MSDE in the installation, do not add this parameter to the command.

Note:

The silent installation is not available from the Crystal Enterprise Setup program and is intended only for experienced administrators of Crystal Enterprise.
The silent installation is not recommended for custom installations. The installation options are simplified and do not allow for the same level of customization that the Crystal Enterprise Setup program provides.
Silent installations are not recommended for upgrades.

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Support services
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