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atmos:software:idl

The Department of Atmospheric Science has a 25 seat IDL licence that has floating licenses being served from flex4.aero.und.edu port (7070). Per the standard installation instructions, all Linux computer should have IDL install during their initial configuration. If you need to install IDL instructions are given below, in additional, there is an Ez HTML page where you can download the install binaries and get further instructions.

Linux IDL Install (Version 8.6)

  • Download idl86-linux.tar.gz and flexnetserver2016.03-linux.tar.gz from Ez site.
  • Untar and uncompress idl86-linux.tar.gz run the ./install script.
  • Untar and flexnetserver2016.03-linux.tar.gz run the ./install script.
  • Activate 1 server license using activate code provided.

Linux IDL Install Options (8.5 version)

  • Directory: /usr/local/exelis
  • copy install file to /usr/local/exelis
  • untar: tar -xzvf idl85envi53linux.x86_64.tar.gz
  • Run install script: ./install.sh

Options:

  • Directory to install in: /usr/local/exelis
  • Install IDL? (y/n): y
  • Install ENVI? (y/n): n
  • IDL Help files? (y/n): y
  • DICOM Network Services? (y/n): n
  • Create the symbolic links in /usr/local/bin? (y/n): y
  • Do you want to run the License Wizard? (y/n): n

Remove install files:

  • rm idl85envi53linux.x86_64.tar.gz
  • rm install.sh

Linux Check on IDL 8.5 and Lower Licenses

Run this command in a terminal:

/usr/local/exelis/idl/bin/lmstat -a

Note: The 'idl' in the above path is a symbolic link and may not point to the correct directory. If the lmstat command cannot be found, change 'idl' to 'idl8#' (where # is the minor version number, i.e. 5 for IDL 8.5) in the above path.

Linux IDL License Setup

To setup a Linux system to run IDL you should modify the /etc/profile file to set the environmental variable LM_LICENSE_FILE to point to the IDL license server (1700@flex2.aero.und.edu). (Setting this in .cshrc or .tcshrc for an individual user also works.) Note that the location of the license file is stored in ~/.flexlmrc. The installation of IDL should be tested by typing idl at a shell prompt and seeing that a license is obtain. In addition, idlde should be tested to see that it starts the IDL development environment. IDL is used as the language for CPLOT Graphical Analysis Program.

  • Open a command line terminal window.
  • Become the system administration (root), type 'su' enter password.
  • Open the /etc/profile file, i.e. type 'gvim /etc/profile'
  • Before the line that starts with 'export' add the following line

LM_LICENSE_FILE=1700@flex2.aero.und.edu

  • Add LM_LICENSE_FILE to the line starting with export, for example

export PATH USER LOGNAME MAIL HOSTNAME HISTSIZE INPUTRC LM_LICENSE_FILE

  • Close and save the file.
  • Stop being root, return to normal user by typing, 'exit'
  • Now you need the change to take effect. You need to either type 'source /etc/profile' in the terminal where you want to run IDL or reboot the computer.
  • Should be able to type 'idl' and get a license.
  • If not, check that the LM_LICENSE_FILE is define by typing 'echo $LM_LICENSE_FILE'

Windows IDL License Setup

To setup a Windows system to run IDL you should install IDL but don't run or install the license manager. Instead after installing IDL configuration an LM_LICENSE_FILE environmental variable to equal 1700@flex2.aero.und.edu. To set or change the LM_LICENSE_FILE environmental variable:

  • Open the 'Control Panel'
  • Select 'System' panel
  • Select 'Advanced' tab
  • Select 'Environmental Variables' button
  • Create a new 'System Variable' (Botton Window). LM_LICENSE_FILE
  • Set LM_LICENSE_FILE equal to 1700@flex2.aero.und.edu

Windows 10 IDL License Setup

  • Search for 'environment variables' using the system search function (i.e. Cortana)
  • Click 'Edit the system environment variables' within the Control Panel
  • In the window that pops up, click on the Advanced tab, then click 'Environment Variables'
  • In the window that pops up, click the 'New…' button under the System Variables section
  • In the window that pops up, type
    • LM_LICENSE_FILE in the 'Variable name' box
    • 1700@flex2.aero.und.edu into the 'Variable value' box
  • Click 'OK' on all open windows

Error With Shared Libraries

If /usr/local/itt/idl/idl80/bin/bin.linux.x86_64/idl: error while loading shared libraries: libXp.so.6: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory appears after IDL has been launched for the first time after installation, then additional libraries need to be installed on the computer for IDL to run correctly. The website: IDL and Linux shared libraries gives information on how to install the additional libraries.

On Fedora platforms, the code to install the additional libraries is: yum install libXp and then yum install libXpm

Remote Access to Aikten License

Tunnelling ports 1700 and 1701 via ssh allows access to the IDL license on aitken.atmos.und.edu. To make the remote access work, need to have idl_lmgrd running on port 1701 and not random port; hence need to have

DAEMON idl_lmgrd PORT=1701

in licence file. Typically add the PORT=1701 to existing line.

atmos/software/idl.txt · Last modified: 2020/12/07 15:01 by delene