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Matlab Installation Instruction for Mac OS X

  1. Review the system requirements

  2. Before you begin, you must first download the Matlab "license.dat" file from the ITC Research licensing database at web.virginia.edu/rescomp/. 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.
  6. When the Important Information dialog box appears, review its contents. Click Continue to proceed with the installation.
  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.
  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.
  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.
  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, www.mathworks.com. To obtain products that have been released since this installation CD was produced, visit the MathWorks Web site and download them.

  15. When License Manager window displays, choose "Customize License Manager Installation".
  16. In the window that opens, choose no for "Install the License Manager" option. Then click OK to continue. After you customize the license manager, click OK to return to the License Manager window and then click Install to continue the installation.
  17. 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.
  18. 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 reason for this is the license file on FLEXlm license manager must occasionally be updated. 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.

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. Read the following article for details: About the Java Update for Mac OS X v10.3.9

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 prompt attention to their 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 ITC's VPN client called "UVa Anywhere."

We recommend using UVa Anywhere as this method also provides access to the University's other restricted resources and is fully supported by ITC. Instructions for installation and download of the client are available at: www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/vpn/uvaany/home.html.

If you need assistance with installation or using the UVa Anywhere client, please contact the ITC Help Desk at 924-3731 or email Consult@Virginia.EDU

Getting Help

If you have questions on installation or usage of Matlab, there are several options for helping yourself. You can visit the "Getting Help" section our Matlab Support page at: www.itc.virginia.edu/research/matlab/#gettinghelp

You can consult the vendor, MathWork's installation instructions by visting the MathWorks Web page at: www.mathworks.com/access/helpdesk/help/base/install/mac/

You can contact the ITC Research Computing Support Center by telephoning 243-8800 or emailing Res-Consult@Virginia.EDU

<--- Go to the ITC Research Computing Support Matlab page