HowTo: Scientific Ubuntu - Installing OpenFOAM CFD software

[orodoni_le]

I use several CFD packages in my work. So far, I've tried Fluent (different versions), CFX (different versions), AirPak and FIDAP. I decided to to test OpenFOAM (1.4 version, 32bits), specially for the software licensing.

Thanks derjames for the great post. I'm a newbie in Linux (Ubuntu 7.04), and your post helps a lot during the installation process. Only one thing. Whe I try to run FoamX from console, i get this error message:

nsd: error while loading shared libraries: libssl.so.0.9.7: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

I went to Synaptic and install the libssl.so.0.9.7 package. Now the FoamX opens without any problem.

Thanks again

[derjames]

I use several CFD packages in my work. So far, I've tried Fluent (different versions), CFX (different versions), AirPak and FIDAP. I decided to to test OpenFOAM (1.4 version, 32bits), specially for the software licensing.

Thanks derjames for the great post. I'm a newbie in Linux (Ubuntu 7.04), and your post helps a lot during the installation process. Only one thing. Whe I try to run FoamX from console, i get this error message:

nsd: error while loading shared libraries: libssl.so.0.9.7: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

I went to Synaptic and install the libssl.so.0.9.7 package. Now the FoamX opens without any problem.

Thanks again

Yes... thanks for that.. I did not realise about that since I am not using FOamX... (I am editing the text files directly) ... so I tested FoamX and I had the same problem... the installation of the library solves the problem...
I am editing the howto with your finding

thanks again for that...

[Pablitox]

Thanks man!! I have just installed OpenFOAM 1.4!!!

Only one thing: the package I had to get and install from Synaptic is libssl0.9.7

[derjames]

hello folks... version 1.4.1 has been set free...

www.openfoam.org

happy modelling!

[happy-hippo]

thanks derjames for the howto and the others for the hints.
tutorials are running without problems so far (OpenFoam1.4, Feisty, 32 bits)

[DanielLloyd]

Hi guys,

I'm a super ultra Ubuntu newbie, so this is all over my head a little, I've tried installing OpenFoam by following the particularly awesome guide but I cant get it working.

This is what I get:

Executing /home/daniel/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-1.4.1/bin/foamInstallationTest:


Checking basic setup...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shell: bash
Host: daniel-laptop
OS: Linux version 2.6.22-14-generic
User: daniel
User_config: /home/daniel/.bashrc
Foam_config: /home/daniel/.OpenFOAM-1.4.1/bashrc sourced correctly.

FATAL ERROR Foam install directory not set.

Set correct path to installation 'WM_PROJECT_INST_DIR' in /home/daniel/.foam2.3/bashrc
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Checking main FOAM env variables...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environment_variable Set_to_file_or_directory Valid Crit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$WM_PROJECT_INST_DIR --------- env variable not set --------- yes
$WM_PROJECT_USER_DIR --------- env variable not set --------- no
$FOAM_JOB_DIR --------- env variable not set --------- yes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Checking the FOAM env variables set on the PATH...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environment_variable Set_to_file_or_directory Valid Path Crit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$WM_PROJECT_DIR --------- env variable not set --------- yes

$FOAM_USER_APPBIN --------- env variable not set --------- no
$FOAM_APPBIN --------- env variable not set --------- yes
$WM_DIR --------- env variable not set --------- yes
$FOAMX_PATH --------- env variable not set --------- yes
$CEI_HOME --------- env variable not set --------- no

$JAVA_PATH --------- env variable not set --------- no
$MICO_ARCH_PATH --------- env variable not set --------- yes
$LAM_ARCH_PATH --------- env variable not set --------- yes
$MPICH_ARCH_PATH --------- env variable not set --------- no
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Checking the FOAM env variables set on the LD_LIBRARY_PATH...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environment_variable Set_to_file_or_directory Valid Path Crit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$FOAM_LIBBIN --------- env variable not set --------- yes
$FOAM_USER_LIBBIN --------- env variable not set --------- no
$LAM_ARCH_PATH --------- env variable not set --------- yes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Software versions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Version Location
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
gcc 4.1.3
WARNING: Conflicting installations:
foam settings: /bin/gcc
current path : /usr/bin/gcc
CRITICAL ERROR

java 1.5.0
libgcj)
WARNING: Conflicting installations:
foam settings: /bin/java
current path : /usr/bin/java

gzip 1.3.12 /bin/gzip
tar 1.3.12 /bin/tar
icoFoam *** not installed ***
CRITICAL ERROR

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Checking file/directory permissions...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
File/directory Set Reqd Crit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Checking networking...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Result Crit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pinging_daniel-laptop Successful yes
Pinging_localHost Successful yes
Test_rsh: Unsuccessful_connection_refused* yes
Test_ssh: Unsuccessful_connection_refused* yes
FATAL ERROR: No remote shell available.
Foam1.4.1 enviroment requires either ssh and/or rsh.
Contact your system administrator.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The system test has evoked 1 fatal error(s).

The foam installation contains 2 critical error(s).

Review the output for warning messages and consult
the installation guide for trouble shooting.

Sorry if its obvious or been asked and sorted before but I just don't really get it

[DanielLloyd]

Hi again,

I reinstalled it and this time it seemed to work... I closed Open Foam and the went off and did some work stuff, came back run FoamX again and it all went pair shaped

I know get this:

daniel@daniel-laptop:~/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-1.4.1/bin$ FoamX
Starting NameServer with inet:daniel-laptop:1234 ...
Starting FoamX Host Browser with inet:daniel-laptop:1234 ...
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
| ========= | |
| \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
| \\ / O peration | Version: 1.4.1 |
| \\ / A nd | Web: http://www.openfoam.org |
| \\/ M anipulation | |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

Exec : FoamXHostBrowser
Date : Nov 07 2007
Time : 11:31:22
Host : daniel-laptop
PID : 18959
Root :
Case :
Nprocs : 1
HostBrowser running.....
Setting LANG to en_EN
Using jar /home/daniel/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-1.4.1/applications/utilities/preProcessing/FoamX/lib/FoamX.jar
Using jar /home/daniel/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-1.4.1/applications/utilities/preProcessing/FoamX/lib/jlfgr-1_0.jar
Exception in thread "main" java.awt.AWTError: Cannot load AWT toolkit: gnu.java.awt.peer.gtk.GtkToolkit
at java.awt.Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit(libgcj.so.81)
at java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment.getLocalGraphicsEnvir onment(libgcj.so.81)
at java.awt.Window.<init>(libgcj.so.81)
at java.awt.Frame.<init>(libgcj.so.81)
at javax.swing.JFrame.<init>(libgcj.so.81)
at FoamX.App.<init>(App.java:196)
at FoamX.App.main(App.java:184)
Caused by: java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: libgtkpeer: libgtkpeer.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
at java.lang.Runtime._load(libgcj.so.81)
at java.lang.Runtime.loadLibrary(libgcj.so.81)
at java.lang.System.loadLibrary(libgcj.so.81)
at gnu.java.awt.peer.gtk.GtkToolkit.<clinit>(libgcj.s o.81)
at java.lang.Class.initializeClass(libgcj.so.81)
at java.lang.Class.forName(libgcj.so.81)
at java.awt.Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit(libgcj.so.81)
...6 more
Killed
runFoamXHB : cleanup
runFoamXHB: Killing name server nsd(pid 18957).
daniel@daniel-laptop:~/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-1.4.1/bin$

I dont get why it worked ones and now it wont. Can someone please help?

[zhoubinwx]

Dear DanielLloyd
I am very glad you have the same problem as me.
According to compare our results with the post in the website: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=156298&page=3
I find ours have 2 differences:
1. FATAL ERROR Foam install directory not set.
Set correct path to installation 'WM_PROJECT_INST_DIR' in /home/zhou/.foam2.3/bashrc
2. we do not set update the environment properly, because you can see “env variable not set”

I am a student in Politecnico di Torino, and I am very glad to make progress with you.

Best regards,

Zhou Bin
(zhoubinwx@hotmail.com)

[david_flo]

Hi again,

I reinstalled it and this time it seemed to work... I closed Open Foam and the went off and did some work stuff, came back run FoamX again and it all went pair shaped

I know get this:


I dont get why it worked ones and now it wont. Can someone please help?

I installed on an HP laptop, AMD Turion64 X2, Edubuntu 7,1 and OpenFOAM 1.4

First of all it was a real pain to get Edubuntu to boot after successfull installation. Apparently there is something not very nice between HP laps and Ubuntu.

Anyway, I managed to get all the tests ok on the 64 version of OpenFOAM, the examples run etc. FoamX crashes with the same error as Daniel.

I thought it was java not being up to date or missing something as I am using the one on the system instead of the one provided with OpenFOAM, same for gcc.

Even after trying to follow the instructions in posts like
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-76735.html
my update manager can't get the updates lists, it says some error 404, could not find the repository.

Regarding the subject in this thread, I would like to know if anyone has experienced the same java related crash with the same versions of the software as myself.

Additionally, in a hopeful tone, if anyone has this same problem updating java, on a different laptop/PC and same software versions, I would really appreciate any inputs. This is getting very frustrating.

Regards

[derjames]

@david_flo and Daniel.

Open Foam is perfectly OK without FoamX. You just need to use your text editor to modify the config files...