Introduction#

The LODRUN command is a nice little command on IBM i that allows you to restore and run a program in one step. It is particularly useful when you want to install a tool or a software on multiple systems without having to manually run many commands. It is suitable for use by users with little experience on IBM i.

It can be used to load and run programs from various sources, such as:

  • A save file (SAVF)
  • A tape device (phyisical tape, VTL or virtual image catalog)
  • An optical device (physical, virtual, virtual image catalog or network image catalog)

How to create a LODRUN “package”#

When you run the LODRUN command, it will restore a program named QINSTAPP to QTEMP and call this program.

If using a tape or optical device, the QINSTAPP program must have been saved from the QTEMP library, if using a save file, it can be saved from any library.

To create the LODRUN package, you need to:

  • Create the program QINSTAPP. This program will contain the logic to install your tool or software. It can be written in any language supported by IBM i, such as RPG, COBOL, CL, etc.
  • Save the program QINSTAPP to a save file, tape or optical device (from QTEMP unless saving to a save file) with the SAVLIB or SAVOBJ command. The media can contain other objects the QINSTAPP program will need to perform the installation but the LODRUN command will only restore the QINSTAPP program to QTEMP.

QINSTAPP parameters#

The QINSTAPP is always called with at least on 10 char parameter containing the device name used with LODRUN command.

If a save file is used, this parameter will contain *SAVF and a second 20 char parameter will contain the name of the save file followed by the library name.

QINSTAPP restrictions#

The QINSTAPP has very few restrictions:

  • The owner of the program on the media must exist on the target system. An IBM supplied user is a good choice.
  • The QINSTAPP program must not call the LODRUN command.