MATLAB Installation Guide for Unix    

Installation Procedure

This section details the step-by-step procedure you use to install the MathWorks products and documentation on your UNIX workstation. Table 1-1, Summary of Installation Procedure lists each step.

Depending on which products you purchased, you may need to repeat this procedure with the other CDs in the set. When you repeat this procedure, you can start at Step 5. (On some systems, you may need to mount each CD.) If you encounter any problems during the installation process, refer to Troubleshooting.

Table 1-1: Summary of Installation Procedure
Perform the pre-installation tasks described in Before You Install
Step 1: Log in to your system
Step 2: Mount your CD-ROM drive
Step 3: Create the installation directory
Step 4: Put your License File in the installation directory
Step 5: Run the installation script
Step 6: Review the license agreement
Step 7: Verify the installation directory name
Step 8: Verify your License File
Step 9: Specify the products and documentation to install
Step 10: Specify location of symbolic links
Step 11: Begin the installation
Step 12: Exit the installer
Perform the post-installation tasks described in After You Install

Step 1: Log In to Your System

Superuser status is required to install the symbolic links that add MATLAB to your users' paths and to edit the system boot script to start the MATLAB license manager automatically at system boot time. If you do not have superuser status, you can still install MATLAB, but MATLAB programs must be invoked using absolute pathnames. You can also set up these links after the installation is complete.

Step 2: Mount Your CD-ROM Drive

Mount the CD-ROM drive you intend to use to install MATLAB, following these instructions. (If your system does not require mounting the CD-ROM drive or if you have downloaded your products from the MathWorks Web site, skip ahead to Step 3.)

  1. Create a directory to be the mount point for the CD-ROM drive. For example:
  2. Put one of the MathWorks CDs in the CD-ROM drive with the label face up. If your CD-ROM drive requires placing the CD in a caddy before inserting it into the drive, make sure the arrow on the caddy is pointing towards the CD-ROM drive.
  3. Execute the command to mount the CD-ROM drive on your system. You can install the software from either a locally mounted CD-ROM drive or from a remotely mounted CD-ROM drive. For more information about these options, see Mounting a CD-ROM Drive Remotely.
  1. On HP systems, if you display a list of all the files on the CD after you mount it, the filenames appear in all capital letters.

Step 3: Create the Installation Directory

Create the installation directory and move to it, using the cd command. For example, to install into the location /usr/local/matlab6p5, use these commands.

You can specify any name for the installation directory. However, do not specify a directory name that contains spaces, an at (@) sign, or a dollar ($) sign. Also, do not include a directory named private as part of the installation path. Subsequent instructions in this book refer to this directory as $MATLAB.

Step 4: Put Your License File in the Installation Directory

Move your License File, named license.dat, into the $MATLAB directory. For more information about license files, see Creating a License File.

The installer looks for the License File in the $MATLAB directory and, after processing it, moves the License File to $MATLAB/etc during installation.

Upgrade Installations.   If you are upgrading an existing MATLAB installation, rename the License File in $MATLAB/etc. The installer will not process the new license file if it finds an existing license file in $MATLAB/etc.

Step 5: Run the Installation Script

Run the installation script appropriate for your platform.

  1. /cdrom/install* & (Sun, Alpha, IBM, SGI, and Linux platforms)
    /cdrom/INSTALL* & (HP platform)

The installation script displays the following welcome screen.

Step 6: Review the License Agreement

Accept or reject the software licensing agreement displayed. If you accept the terms of the agreement, you may proceed with the installation.

Step 7: Verify the Installation Directory Name

Verify the name of the installation directory in the MATLAB Root Directory dialog box and then click OK to continue. If you specify a directory that does not exist, the installer creates it.

Step 8: Verify Your License File

Verify your License File in the License File dialog box and click OK.

When verifying your License File:

You can edit the License File in the text window displayed. If you want to use another text editor, click Cancel. Make sure you edit the processed version of the License File, $MATLAB/etc/license.dat, not the version of the License File you placed in the top-level installation directory in Step 4.

Step 9: Specify the Products and Documentation to Install

Specify the products and documentation you want to install in the Installation Options dialog box and then click OK to continue.

This dialog box lists all the products and documentation available on the CD that you are licensed to install. If you do not want to install an item in this list, select it and click the Remove button. (A MATLAB installation includes MATLAB, the MATLAB Toolbox, and the MATLAB Kernel.)

Select any additional platforms needed at your site from the column of check boxes. For information about which HP platform option to choose, HP-700 or HP-UX, see Additional System Requirement Notes.

Step 10: Specify Location of Symbolic Links

Specify where you want to put symbolic links to the matlab and mex scripts in the Installation Data dialog box. Choose a directory such as /usr/local/bin that is common to all your users' paths. The installer fills in the License Number automatically. Click OK to continue with the installation.

Step 11: Begin the Installation

The installer displays the Begin Installation dialog box. Click OK to begin the installation.

The installer displays a dialog box indicating the progress of the installation.

Step 12: Exit the Installer

After the installation is complete, the installer displays the Installation Complete dialog box, assuming your installation is successful. This dialog box informs you of some optional post-installation setup and configuration steps you may want to perform. See After You Install for more information. Click Exit to dismiss the installer.


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