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--- computing:software:idl [2014/06/25 12:30] – nick
+++ computing:software:idl [2015/11/25 11:22] (current) – [Network license setup] allan
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== IDL ======
-IDL software is licensed and paid for by specific research groups within the School (specifically Astronomy, Cosmology and Biological Physics). If you are not a member of these groups, then please do not try installing this software.
+<note>
+IDL software is licensed and paid for by specific research groups within the School (specifically Astronomy, Cosmology and Biological Physics). If you are not a member of these groups, then please do not install this software on your own lab computers.
+IDL is also available for general use on the physics linux cluster, and is preinstalled on the Physics AD windows systems. [[computing/department/unix/software/idl|More information specific to IDL on Physics linux cluster]]
+</note>
-===== Download the installer =====
+===== Download and run the installer =====
-<note>
+Internal physics users: go to your [[https://www.physics.umn.edu/resources/myphys/|MyPhys page]] and choose software downloads.
-IDL is pre-installed on the departmentally-managed linux and windows systems, so these instructions should be unnecessary. [[computing/department/unix/software/idl|More information specific to IDL on Physics linux cluster]]
-</note>
-Go to your [[https://www.physics.umn.edu/resources/myphys/|MyPhys page]] and choose software downloads.
+The IDL section contains downloads for windows (''.exe''), linux (''.tar'') and Mac (''.pkg'').
-===== Using IDL on the Twin Cities campus =====
+===== Network license setup =====
-IDL needs to communicate with our license server in order to run. The license server is directly accessible from the campus network, making the setup slightly more straightforward.
+IDL needs to communicate with our license server in order to run. The license server is directly accessible from the campus network, but you need to take special steps to connect from off-campus.
-==== Windows installation ====
+After downloading and running the installer, newer versions of IDL start a "license wizard".
+  * Our MyPhys downloads page includes a minimal ''license.dat'' file, which you should download.
+  * After selecting the option for a network license, provide this file to the license wizard.
+We emphasize that this doesn't provide a local, standalone license - we only support use with the network license server. If you need to run in disconnected mode, you will need to purchase your own license directly from IDL (Exelis).
+==== Manual Windows installation ====
+Hopefully obsolete directions, but provided for reference.
   * Download the Windows IDL installer.
   * Run the installer
@@ Line 28: / Line 37: @@
     * Save the settings.
-==== Unix, Linux or Mac OS installation ====
+==== Manual Unix, Linux or Mac OS installation ====
   * Download the installer (either a ''tar.gz'' file for linux, or a ''pkg'' file for Mac).
@@ Line 40: / Line 49: @@
     * For Bash shell: ". .bashrc"
-==== Alternative method for network license setup ====
+===== Running IDL from off-campus =====
-After installing newer versions of IDL, a "license wizard" runs. If you select the option for a network license, our downloads page has a minimal ''license.dat'' file, which you can download and provide for IDL. Note that this doesn't provide a local license; you still need to be able to connect to the license server to use the program.
+To access the license server from outside, the easiest, and recommended method is to connect to the [[http://it.umn.edu/virtual-private-network-vpn|University VPN]].
-===== Running IDL from off-campus =====
-To access the license server from outside, the easiest method is to follow the on-campus instructions above and then connect to the [[http://it.umn.edu/services/all/data-network/vpn/|University VPN]]. Alternatively, you can set up a network "tunnel" using ssh.
+Alternatively, you can set up a network "tunnel" using ssh.
-==== Windows directions ====
+==== Windows ssh tunnel directions ====
-  * Download the free Windows ssh client Putty. Putty doesn't need installation, just put putty.exe in any directory, e.g. c:\program files\putty
+This is one of many possible methods (actually it's probably easier to use **MobaXterm** than putty - we'll aspire to replacing these one day)
+  * Download the free Windows ssh client Putty. Putty doesn't need installation, just put putty.exe in any convenient directory such as ''C:\\Program files\putty.exe'', or even on the desktop.
   * As above you need to define an environment variable to tell IDL the location of our license server, but this time we will be tunneling the connection through localhost:
     * Open the System control panel.
@@ Line 66: / Line 74: @@
 idlde.exe</code> The PING command is just to give you a brief delay (10000 milliseconds) to enter your password before IDL is started. Create a shortcut to startidl.bat file on your desktop or wherever you like it. Use it to start IDL.
-==== Mac OS X ====
+==== Mac OS ssh tunnel ====
   * Follow the section about LM_LICENSE_FILE under the OS X installation instructions above, replacing the LM_LICENSE_FILE line with ''setenv LM_LICENSE_FILE 1700@localhost'' or ''export LM_LICENSE_FILE=1700@localhost'', depending on your shell. Note: This step only needs to be done once.

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