Matlab Installation Instructions

For Mac OS X

Review the system requirements

  • Power Macintosh G3, G4, or G5 running OS X (10.3 or later)
  • X Windows. The only supported version is the Apple X11 for Mac OS X window system.
  • 215 MB free disk space for MATLAB and the online help files
  • 128 MB RAM minimum, 256 MB RAM recommended
  • Netscape Navigator 6.2 or above, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 or above, or Safari is required.
  • Mac OS X supported printer
  • gcc Version 3.3 compiler as provided on the Apple Development Tools CD to build C MEX-files, or Absoft Pro Fortran v8.2a for OSX to build Fortran MEX-files

Steps

  1. Before you begin, you must first download the Matlab "license.dat" file from the ITC Research licensing database at web.virginia.edu/rescomp/.
  2. Please make note of the special instructions on the licensing download page there.
  3. Place CD 1 in the CD-ROM drive. When the CD's icon appears on the desktop, double-click the icon to display the CD's contents.
  4. Double-click the InstallForMacOSX icon to begin the installation.
  5. To install the MathWorks products, you must enter a username and password for an administrator. Enter the username and password in the Authenticate dialog box and then click OK.

    Authenticate picture

  6. When the Important Information dialog box appears, review its contents. Click Continue to proceed with the installation.

    Install

  7. If you did not previously install X11 for Mac OS X, you will see this message. You can continue with the product installation by clicking OK.

    X11 Not Found message

  8. Note: You will not be able to run the MathWorks Release 14 products until you install X11 for Mac OS X.
  9. The Software License Agreement is displayed. If you agree to its terms, you can continue the installation.
  10. The default installation location is MATLAB71 in the Applications folder on your system disk. To accept the default, click Continue. To change the location, click Choose Folder and then navigate to the desired location.

    Install Location dialog box

  11. When the License File window appears, copy the contents of the License File that you downloaded from the licensing database into the License File window. You can use TextEdit to copy the contents of the license file to the clipboard and paste it into the License File window.
  12. Select the products you want to install from the list of products available for installation and then click Continue.

    Select products dialog box

  13. If you are installing products that are on a different CD, the installer will eject the current CD but will not prompt you to insert the next CD. Make sure to insert the additional disks in turn.
  14. Note: The installer might display a message that states one or more of your licensed products are not available on this CD but are available at the MathWorks Web site. To obtain products that have been released since this installation CD was produced, visit the MathWorks Web site and download them.
  15. When the License Manager window displays, choose Customize License Manager Installation

    License Manager dialog box

  16. In the window that opens, choose No for Install the License Manager. Then click OK to continue.

    License Manager Customization dialog box

  17. After you customize the license manager, click OK to return to the License Manager window and then click Install to continue the installation.
  18. When the installation successfully completes, the installer displays the Installation Complete dialog box. This dialog box gives you options for accessing MATLAB. Check your desired options and click Finish to complete the installation.

    Installation Complete dialog box

  19. Once you have finished installing Matlab, go edit the working license.dat file, which should be located in Matlab's etc/ directory, as follows: replace all but the SERVER... line (generally the first or second line) with USE_SERVER. While what is replaced is necessary for installing the software, after it is installed, the codes become a liability. The license file on the FLEXlm license manager must occasionally be updated, and if your codes don't match the license manager's codes, some of Matlab's toolboxes and sometimes even Matlab itself will fail to work. By replacing those codes with USE_SERVER you tell your installation of Matlab to use the license manager's codes, thereby avoiding any mismatches.
  20. Note that if you have OS X 10.3.9 and you get a segmentation error installing/using Matlab, then you need to install the Apple java patch. For details, read About the Java Update for Mac OS X v10.3.9.
  21. If you have successfully installed Matlab, please return the Matlab Installation CDs to the ITC Research Computing Support Center promptly so that they may be made available to others. Your attention to their prompt return is greatly appreciated.

Using Matlab off-grounds

  • If you are using Matlab from off-Grounds, you will have to go through an authentication process to connect to the Matlab license manager using the UVa Anywhere VPN client.
  • If you need assistance with installation or using the UVa Anywhere client, please contact the ITC Help Desk by phone at 4-HELP (434-924-4357) or by email.

Getting Help

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