RE: Installation Programs (was: CD Burning Software?)

["Andy Nolen-Parkhouse" <aparkhouse@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brad,

Comments inline.

> > Besides, LODRUN was IMNSHO a kludge (provided in VRM220) to make
> it easy
> > for vendors to create installation programs.

It's a simple program, it restores a program from media and executes
that program.  As near as I can tell, that is all it does (with a little
checking on program object ownership).  I think it only becomes a kludge
when we refer to it as an installation methodology.  To call this an
'installation program' is to overstate it's function.  It is a simple,
user-friendly means to load an installation program but I can't conceive
of it being an installation program in its own right.

> > Here's my problem. I have a box that could be backing up an AS/400
> to CD right now, except for the fact that the only IBM software
> that supports multiple CD volumes that I am aware of, is LODRUN.

I'm unclear where you got this impression.  LODRUN restores a program
and executes it.  Once the program starts executing, LODRUN has
completed its function.  Anything which deals with multiple volumes
would be in the restored program, not the command itself.  Am I missing
something?

> If it is the OPTINST CL that does this, I assume it uses some
> magic program already residing on the AS/400 that reads the CDs
> with their catalogues and restores the objects. Are those
> references to a module within LODRUN itself?

LODRUN, as far as I know, contains no modules for processing multiple
CD's.  It restores and executes a program.  I assume in your example
above, that OPTINST is really the program restored by LODRUN which has a
required name of QINSTAPP.

Regards,
Andy Nolen-Parkhouse