Summary
This article describes how to manually create Java VM packs on different operating systems using any java on different operating systems.
Synopsis
This article outlines the steps necessary to create VM packs manually.
Discussion
A JRE VM pack is the InstallAnywhere term for a compressed ZIP archive that contains the files and directories that constitute a platform-specific Java , which includes the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that runs an InstallAnywhere -generated installer. InstallAnywhere recognizes the .vm file extension for a VM pack, but the VM pack is still just a compressed ZIP archive. A VM pack must include at least a valid JRE, but it can also include a full Java Development Kit (JDK), which implicitly includes a JRE.
Many VM packs are available for download on the InstallAnywhere Web site.
https://www.flexera.com/producer/products/software-installation/installanywhere/tab/files-utilities
If none of the VM packs available on the InstallAnywhere Web site meet your requirements, you can create your own VM pack following these steps:
Windows :
JRE VM Pack Structure
Steps to create VM Pack
Windows.vm
|-vm.properties
|-vm.zip
|-bin
|-java
|-lib
1. Create vm.properties file with the following contents.
vm.name=Oracle JRE <#version>_<#update> Windows(x32 | x64)
vm.platform=windows
vm.platform.flavor=win32 | win64
vm.exe.path=bin\\java.exe
Note :
* Use Notepad ++ to create the above file.
* File Format should be UNIX (Notepad++ > Format > Convert to UNIX Format).
2. Copy the jre folder from <JAVA_INSTALL_DIR> .
3. Zip all the content of jre folder without any compression (see the below image for 7-zip settings)
Note :
* Use 7-zip tool.
* Can also zip the jre folder (support for nested jre folder).
4. Rename the above created file to vm.zip .
5. Zip vm.properties and vm.zip with maximum compression (see the below image for 7-zip settings) and provide proper name.
eg: OracleJRE170u40_Windows.zip for Oracle JRE 1.7.0 update 40 for Windows.
6. Change the file type to .vm for the above created zip file.
eg: OracleJRE170u40_Windows.zip -> OracleJRE170u40_Windows.vm
Unix :
JRE VM Pack Structure
Steps to create VM Pack
UNIX.vm
|-vm.properties
|-vm.tar.Z
|-jre
|-bin
|-java
|-lib
1. Create vm.properties file with the following contents.
vm.name=Oracle JRE <#version>_<#update> Linux(x32 | x64)
vm.platform=unix
vm.platform.flavor=linux
vm.exe.path=bin/java
2. Give full permission to vm.properties
3. Copy the jre folder from <JAVA_INSTALL_DIR>.
4. Give full permission to the entire jre folder
cmd> chmod -R 777 jre/
5. Use tar to archive jre folder without any compression.
cmd> tar -cvf vm.tar jre/
6. Give full permission to vm.tar and gzip the above created file vm.tar.
cmd> chmod 777 vm.tar
cmd> gzip vm.tar vm.tar.gz
7. Give full permission to vm.tar.gz and rename the above created file vm.tar.gz to vm.tar.Z
cmd> chmod 777 vm.tar.gz
cmd> mv vm.tar.gz vm.tar.Z
8. jar vm.properties and vm.tar.Z and provide proper name for the VM.
cmd> jar -cvf OracleJRE170u40.vm vm.properties vm.tar.z
MAC OSX:
JDK VM Pack Structure
Steps to create VM Pack (JDK)
MAC.vm
|-vm.properties
|-vm.zip
|-jre
|-Contents
|-Home
|-jre
|-bin
|-java
|-lib
1. Create vm.properties file with the following contents.
vm.name=Oracle JRE <#version>_<#update> Mac OS X
vm.platform=mac-osx
vm.platform.flavor=mac
vm.exe.path=Contents/Home/jre/bin/java
2. Give full permission to vm.properties
3. Copy the jdk folder from <JAVA_INSTALL_DIR>.
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachine/<jdk>
4. Give full permission to the entire jdk folder and rename it to jre
cmd> mv jdk/ jre/
cmd> chmod -R 777 jre/
5. zip jre folder.
cmd> zip -r jre.zip jre/
6. Give full permission to jre.zip and rename the above created file jre.zip to vm.zip
cmd> chmod 777 jre.zip
cmd> mv jre.zip vm.zip
7. jar vm.properties and vm.zip and provide proper name for the VM.
cmd> jar -cvf OracleJRE170u40.vm vm.properties vm.zip
JRE VM Pack Structure
Steps to create VM Pack (JRE)
MAC.vm
|-vm.properties
|-vm.zip
|-jre
|-Contents
|-Home
|-bin
|-java
|-lib
1. Create vm.properties file with the following contents.
vm.name=Oracle JRE <#version>_<#update> Mac OS X
vm.platform=mac-osx
vm.platform.flavor=mac
vm.exe.path=Contents/Home/bin/java
2. Give full permission to vm.properties
3. Copy the jre folder from <JRE_INSTALL_DIR>.
/Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/
4. Give full permission to the entire jre folder
cmd> chmod -R 777 jre/
5. zip jre folder.
cmd> zip -r jre.zip jre/
6. Give full permission to jre.zip and rename the above created file jre.zip to vm.zip
cmd> chmod 777 jre.zip
cmd> mv jre.zip vm.zip
7. jar vm.properties and vm.zip and provide proper name for the VM.
cmd> jar -cvf OracleJRE170u40.vm vm.properties vm.zip
Place created VM pack to <IA_HOME>/resource/installer_vms folder and restart IA designer.
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