Running the xlc_install utility for a new installation

The xlc_install utility is the recommended tool for installing XL C/C++. It is located in the root directory of the installation image.

About this task
Note: Because the xlc_install utility is written in Perl, you must ensure that Perl is installed on your system before you run the utility. See Verifying that the required GNU and Perl packages are installed.
When you run the xlc_install utility for a new installation, it does the following:
  • Checks for all prerequisite software packages
  • Uninstalls any previously installed XL C/C++ components
  • Installs all compiler packages into the default location, /opt/ibmcmp/
  • Automatically invokes the new_install utility, which installs the license file and generates the default configuration file
  • Optionally creates symbolic links in /usr/bin/ to the compiler invocation commands
  • Generates an installation log in the /tmp/ directory

To run the xlc_install utility to install IBM XL C/C++ for Linux, V11.1:

  1. If the product CD is mounted at the /cdrom directory in the system, issue the following commands:
       cd /cdrom
       ./xlc_install 
    For additional arguments that you can specify for xlc_install, see xlc_install options.
    • If another instance of IBM XL C/C++ for Linux is detected on your system, you are prompted to uninstall it. Confirm that you want to proceed with the uninstallation. If you choose not to uninstall the existing instance of the compiler, the installation process will end.
    • If other versions of the IBM SMP and MASS packages are detected on your system either alone or as part of an IBM XL Fortran for Linux, V13.1 installation, you are prompted to uninstall them. Confirm that you want to proceed with uninstalling the existing IBM SMP and MASS packages. If you choose not to uninstall the previously installed components, the installation process will terminate.
  2. You are presented with the licensing agreement and licensing information. Read the licensing agreement and licensing information. If you agree to the licensing terms, accept the license agreement and licensing information to continue installation.

    You are prompted to create symbolic links for the compiler invocations in the /usr/bin/ directory.

  3. Optionally, create the symbolic links.
    Note: An alternative to this step is to add the path that contains the compiler invocations to the PATH environment variable. See Setting the PATH environment variable to include the path to the compiler invocations.

    If you chose to create symbolic links, the following links are created in the /usr/bin/ subdirectory:

    • gxlc
    • gxlc++
    • gxlC
    • xlc
    • xlc++
    • xlC
    • xlc_r
    • xlc++_r
    • xlC_r
    For more information on other specialized invocations that may be available, please refer to IBM XL C/C++ for Linux, V11.1 Compiler Reference, "Invoking the compiler".
    Note: Some command links are not created in /usr/bin/, either because they might delete user-defined or GCC-related invocations, or because they are not compiler invocation commands. These include:
    • c89, c89_r, c99, c99_r, cc, cc_r
    • cleanpdf, mergepdf, new_install, resetpdf, showpdf, vac_configure
If all packages are successfully installed:
  • A message is displayed confirming the successful installation.
    Note: NLS is not supported for messages that are issued by the xlc_install utility.
  • The configuration file is generated. Its location is /opt/ibmcmp/vac/11.1/etc/vac.cfg.$OSRelease.gcc$gccVersion. For example, /opt/ibmcmp/vac/11.1/etc/vac.cfg.sles11.gcc432 or /opt/ibmcmp/vac/11.1/etc/vac.cfg.rhel5.5.gcc412.
  • The installation log is moved to its permanent location: /opt/ibmcmp/vacpp/11.1/xlc_install.log.