Installing MATLAB on your Cortex VM
Presently, Cortex VMs do not come with MATLAB pre-installed on them. Since licensing is done on a lab by lab basis, you will need to install MATLAB on your own VM instead of Research Computing.
Creating a MathWorks Account
- Navigate to the MathWorks account sign-up page here.
- Enter your LionMail e-mail address and fill out the remainder of the fields.
- Verify your e-mail address in LionMail (or using your favorite e-mail client with LionMail).
- Complete your registration by filling out the remainder of the fields on the next page. When prompted for the activation key, use the association key on this page.
Linux-Specific Pre-Installation Instructions
These steps must be completed first before initiating the MATLAB installer.
- Log into your Cortex VM and install the x2go server package for your respective Linux distribution by following the instructions here.
Install a graphical user environment. We suggest installing the MATE Desktop environment, whose installation instructions may be found here.
- Install the x2go client on your workstation by following the instructions here.
- Open the x2go client on your workstation and create a new session by going to the Session menu, followed by New Session. For the first field, Session name, choose a descriptive identifier that will allow you to identify the host. Under Host, add the domain name for your server, for Login (optional) you can add your username, and for Session type select the graphical user environment you installed (MATE is our recommendation). Leave the other fields unchanged unless directed otherwise in your VM request ticket. Click OK to save the session profile you've created.
- In the right hand side of the x2go client window, click on the session you created in step 4 and enter your password when prompted. You should then be presented with the graphical environment that you installed. If you do not see the graphical environment you installed or are unable to connect to your Cortex VM, e-mail rc@zi.columbia.edu for further assistance.
Installation Instructions for Linux and Windows
- If you are using a concurrent license, download the concurrent license file from here (under "Concurrent Licenses") from within your VM using a web browser. As instructed on the page in the link, rename the file so that its extension is .lic instead of .txt.
- Navigate to the MathWorks website here using a web browser. If you already have a MathWorks account log into it now. If you do not, create one. For more info on creating a Mathworks account, see the section entitled Creating a MathWorks Account above.
- Under My Software on your MathWorks account page, click the down arrow next to the row with license 650045 if you are using the concurrent license or next to the row corresponding to your standalone license if you are using the standalone licensing model. This will take you to a page where you can select which version of MATLAB you'd like to download. Download the Windows installer for whichever version best suits your needs.
- Start the MATLAB installer. It will begin by unzipping a number of temporary files. Click Yes when prompted with "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?"
- Select Log in with a MathWorks Account for a concurrent license. For standalone licenses, select Use a File Installation Key. Accept the licensing terms and click Next.
- For a concurrent license, select license 650045. For a standalone license, enter the File Installation Key. Click Next.
- Choose an installation folder for MATLAB when prompted. Click Next.
- Select whichever toolboxes you'd like to install. The toolboxes that Columbia has licensed are listed here. Click Next.
- Add the path to the .lic file from step one when prompted for the license file location. Click Next.
- Add shortcuts and provide feedback to MathWorks as desired.
- Click Install on the confirmation screen.