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[McIDAS #LBP-871135]: Installing MciDAS under Windows

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  • Subject: [McIDAS #LBP-871135]: Installing MciDAS under Windows
  • Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 07:14:09 -0600
Hi Sepideh,

re:
> Hope you are doing well,and thank you so much for your previous helps.

I am well, thanks and no worries for the previous help.

re:
> So as i negotiated with the colleagues at MIT, we decided that i have to
> install mcidas on my desktop, which had window on it.

I do not recommend running McIDAS under Windows because:

- the Unidata additions/modifications/bugfixes are not included in the
  Windows version

- you would have to get and install an X Windows package on Windows.  This
  may not be free

- you can not serve data from the McIDAS installation under Windows to
  other machines.  I think that this is the next thing you were wanting
  to do...

That being said, I do run McIDAS on my Windows laptops, but I run it
inside a VMWare Player virtual Linux machine.  This approach works nicely
_IF_ your Windows machine is fast enough, but it requires:

- installing VMWare Player (this is free)

- downloading and a Linux virtual machine for VMWare (about 1 GB)

- installing the needed development packages in the Linux virtual
  machine so you can build McIDAS

- building McIDAS from source (just like you did under Linux)

- one of the challenges with this approach is the amount of disk
  allocated to the virtual machine (they tend to be limited).  You
  can access data on shared Windows volumes, however.

re:
> Can you please help me through it?I have a very short time and a lot to do
> on mcidas, i tried to read all the documents provided on the website, but
> whether i am too nervous or it is too complicated.

Given your very short time constraint, I would strongly recommend against
trying to install directly under Windows as that environment typically
takes quite a bit of time to tweak to work correctly.  Installing VMWare
Player and then the Linux virtual machine can go fast if you (or someone
helping you) is familiar with the process.

re:
> thanks in advance for your help,

I really think that your best option with limited time is to us a Linux
machine.  You have been through the process of building in that environment,
so it should go quickly.

Cheers,

Tom
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Ticket Details
===================
Ticket ID: LBP-871135
Department: Support McIDAS
Priority: Normal
Status: Closed