McIDAS User's Guide
Version 2012.2

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Preparing the Workstation

Before installing McIDAS-X, verify that the workstation is configured to the specifications listed in the table on the previous page. Then go to the section below that applies to your configuration and complete its instructions.


Unix Workstations

Read the two sections below and complete the tasks that apply to your configuration.

Enabling Inter-Process Communication

On HP-UX, Linux and Solaris systems, the system administrator should use the command ipcs to verify that your workstation configuration has Inter-Process Communication (IPC) enabled in the system kernel. If IPC is not running, rebuild your system kernel with all IPC functions enabled.

Allocating Sufficient Shared Memory

McIDAS-X uses shared memory for frame allocation. On HP-UX systems, the shared memory facility is activated by default and has a sufficient maximum segment size for most McIDAS-X sessions. However, this is not true for Solaris and Linux systems. Therefore, on Solaris and Linux systems the system administrator must force the kernel to activate the shared memory system at boot time and set the maximum segment size to 512 MB or greater the first time McIDAS-X is installed on a Solaris or Linux workstation.


Mac OS X Workstations

Read the two sections below and complete the tasks as instructed.

Allocating Sufficient Shared Memory

McIDAS-X uses shared memory for frame allocation. On some operating systems, the shared memory facility is activated by default and has a sufficient maximum segment size for most McIDAS-X sessions. However, this is not true for Mac OS X systems. Therefore, on Mac OS X systems the system administrator must force the kernel to activate the shared memory system at boot time and set the maximum segment size to 512 MB or greater the first time McIDAS-X is installed on a Mac OS X workstation.

Creating the /home link on Mac OS X

Mac OS X systems use /Users instead of /home as on other Unix-based systems. You can create a link from /home to /Users by running the command below.

Type:  sudo ln -s /Users /home


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