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Internal: ENVI/IDL Install On Ubuntu 8.10 (64-bit)

David Blackston

Installing IDL 7.0 and newer on Ubuntu 8.10 64-bit will require users to take specific steps prior to installing IDL to ensure that no issues arise during the process. IDL and the Workbench require specific 32-bit libraries and Sun's 32-bit Java JRE, which are not included in the 64-bit distribution, in order to function.
This article will provide you with the necessary steps to successfully install IDL and the Workbench on your computer.

A.  Create "arch" Variable On System
  1. The installer script requires the "arch" variable to determine the system architecture.  Open a terminal window and do the following
    • cd /bin (change directory to bin)
    • sudo touch arch (create a file named "arch")
    • chmod 777 arch (change permissions on the file)
    • vi arch (open the file with the vi editor)
    • #!/bin/sh (add this as line 1)
    • uname -m (add this as line 2)
    • :wq (writes information to file and quits vi editor)
  2. Test by opening a new terminal and doing the following:
    • type arch
    • type uname -m
    • responses should be the same
B.  Install 32-bit Libraries
  1. Download the "getlibs" utility from the following location to install the 32-bit libraries utilized by Ubuntu:
  2. Install the file and it will provide the 32-bit libraries necessary to properly install and run IDL and the Workbench.
C.  Install the Necessary Java JRE (Note:  A JRE is not the same as a JDK, so make sure to download the JRE.)
  1. Navigate to System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager
  2. Type ia32-sun in the Quick Search text field and locate the ia32-sun packages (should be versions 5 and 6).  Install both along with their dependencies (see Tech Tip 4442 for more information on the download and installation process).
  3. Type "java -version" at the command line and make sure that the version returned is a Sun release that is 32-bit.
  4. Reboot the computer.
D.  Install  From DVD
  1. Enter "sudo apt-get install csh" at the command line and follow the installation instructions presented.
  2. Enter "csh" at the command line after the installation has completed.  The csh shell is required to run the installation script.
  3. Enter "sudo mkdir"
  4. Navigate to the location of the media (on our test system "cd /cdrom") and enter "sudo ./install_unix.sh".
  5. Follow the prompts, making sure to include the necessary options.
E.  Install From Download
  1. Navigate to the website www.ittvis.com and login.
  2. Go to Downloads -> Product Downloads and select ENVI or IDL.
  3. Make sure to download the Linux version of the software (Note: The Licensing and Installation manual is located under Downloads -> Software Licensing
NOTE:  If you wish to install to a directory other than the one suggested you will need to verify that there will be no permissions issues accessing the specified file.