Stores answers to a request script.
pkgask [ -d Device] -r Response [ Pkginst [ Pkginst [. . .]]
pkgask enables an administrator to store answers to an interactive package (one with a request script) or a set of packages. A set is made up of a special-purpose package, referred to as a Set Installation Package (SIP), and a collection of one or more packages that are members of the set. The SIP controls the installation of the set.
Invoking pkgask generates a Response file that is then used as input at installation time. The use of this Response file prevents any interaction from occurring during installation since the file already contains all of the information the package needs.
When pkgask runs, it creates the response file as well as the following directories:
/ptfvars | Contains variables pertaining to the package. |
/fileinfo | Contains checksum information about the package. |
/oldfiles | Contains backups of previous versions of the package. |
To install the package on another system non-interactively, you must copy all of these files and directories to the target system.
You can use the -r flag to indicate a directory name as well as a filename. The directory name is used to create numerous Response files, each sharing the name of the package with which it should be associated. This is useful, for example, when you add multiple interactive packages with one invocation of pkgadd. Each package needs a Response file. To create multiple response files with the same name as the package instance, name the directory in which the files should be created and supply multiple instance names with the pkgask command. When installing the packages, you can identify this directory to the pkgadd command.
This command returns the following exit values:
0 | Successful completion of script. |
1 | Fatal error. Installation process is terminated at this point. |
2 | Warning or possible error condition. Installation continues. A warning message is displayed at the time of completion. |
3 | Script was interrupted and possibly left unfinished. Installation terminates at this point. |
4 | Script was suspended (administration). Installation terminates at this point. |
5 | Script was suspended (interaction was required). Installation terminates at this point. |
10 | System should be rebooted when installation of all selected packages is completed. (This value should be added to one of the single-digit exit codes described above.) |
20 | The system should be rebooted immediately upon completing installation of the current package. (This value should be added to one of the single-digit exit codes described above.) |
77 | No package was selected for the set. |
99 | Internal error. |
/var/spool/pkg | default spool directory |
The pkgadd command, pkgchk command, pkginfo command, pkgmk command, pkgparam command, pkgtrans command, pkgrm command.