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Install BF Agent on Linux as non-root


Luca Martinucci (1.0k397112) | asked Nov 22 '11, 11:39 a.m.
Is it possible for a non-root user to install the BF Agent on Linux?
I've tried, but I got this error:

rpm -iUvh rhel5-bfagent-7.0.2.7-0-0003.rpm
error: can't create transaction lock on /var/lib/rpm/__db.000


Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

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Joshua Keefe (1011) | answered Jan 04 '12, 8:01 p.m.
It is possible to install the Build Forge agent as non-root, but not with the Linux rpm package.

You will either need to extract the bfagent binary and bfagent.conf file or compile the agent via the source kit.

Although you will still require root access to run the Build Forge agent under xinetd Linux services, you may run the agent as a non-root user in stand-alone mode (-s).
You will also need to specify the agent configuration file via the -f option, as the default configuration file is located under /etc/bfagent.

ie: bfagent -f /home/myuser/bfagent.conf -s

The limitation with running as a non-root user is that you will need to configure the agent magic_login setting, as the non-root user will not have access to the Linux PAM authentication.

More details regarding the magic_login setting can be found under the Build Forge Information Center.

Installing > Installing agents > Configuring the agent > bfagent.conf reference
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/bldforge/v7r1m3/topic/com.ibm.rational.buildforge.doc/topics/agent_configure_bfagent_conf.html
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