Force Agent Upgrade and Java Decoupling using Silent Installer

Products

• Workload Automation Agent

Issue/Introduction

When using a silent installation package for Windows, the setup.exe may fail to perform an upgrade if it detects the existing agent version is already at the target level. This often happens when the goal is not to change the agent binary version, but to reconfigure the agent to use a System Java (External JRE) instead of the Bundled Java. The installer sees the version match and skips the configuration update.

Environment

• Workload Automation Agent 12.1.x, 24.x

• Windows Server

 

Cause

By default, the installer checks the version in the target directory. If the version matches, the silent install may terminate without applying changes to the agentparm.txt or updating the JVM paths unless explicitly forced to do so.

Resolution

To force the silent installer to run, update the agent configuration, and point to a System Java (External JRE), you must use a properties file with specific JVM and upgrade flags.

1. Create the Silent Properties File: Create a text file (e.g., win_installer.properties) and include the following parameters. Ensure you comment out or set USE_BUNDLED_JVM to FALSE to enable the external path. For example;

INSTALLER_UI=SILENT
ACCEPT_EULA=ACCEPT
AGENT_UPGRADE_PATH=D:\\Apps\\CA\\WorkloadAutomationAE\\SystemAgent\\WA_AGENT
# Set to FALSE or comment out to use System Java
USE_BUNDLED_JVM=FALSE
# Define the external JRE path
JVM_DOT=C:\\Program Files\\Java\\latest\\jre-1.8
JVM_PATH=C:\\Program Files\\Java\\latest\\jre-1.8\\bin\\java.exe
# Force the installer to proceed despite version matches or warnings
AGENT_UPGRADE_FORCE=true
UPGRADE_BACKUP_LOCATION=D:\\Apps\\CA\\WorkloadAutomationAE\\SystemAgent\\WA_AGENT\\backup

 

2. Run the Installation Command: Execute the setup.exe from a command prompt (as Administrator) using the -f flag to point to your properties file:

setup.exe -f "C:\path\to\win_installer.properties"

 

Parameter Notes:

• AGENT_UPGRADE_PATH: Must match the exact current installation location of the WA Agent.

• AGENT_UPGRADE_FORCE: (Optional) If set to true, the upgrade proceeds regardless of warnings. If false (default), the process fails on any warning or error.

• UPGRADE_BACKUP_LOCATION: (Optional) If omitted, the installer creates a backup inside the agent directory named backup.

• Path Formatting: Use double backslashes (\\) for all Windows directory paths within the properties file.

Additional Information

• After the process completes, verify the oscomponent.javapath in the agentparm.txt to ensure it reflects the new System Java path.

• Ensure the System Java version is compatible with the Agent version (e.g., Java 8 for Agent 12.1).