[pisherwood]

So I don't have much background with linux so please bear with me. I installed set up a dual boot of ubuntu 16.04.3 on my windows 10 laptop and have attempted to install OpenFOAM. I was able to install OpenFOAM but from what I gather I need to give my user access to the root directory since I have installed it in the opt directory. I couldn't edit or execute the files because they were in a root directory so I moved the tutorials to the home directory. I can now edit the files but wen i run OpenFOAM commands it gives me a 'command cannot be found' error when i try and run a simulation.

my question:

1. is there a easy safe way I can get access to the root directory as a standard user
2. is there an easy way to simply install openfoam in the home directory so I don't have to have root access to access the files
3. is there a piece of this that I am just not understanding (i honestly assume this has to be part of my problem)

again im real new to this. Thanks!!

[wyldckat]

Quick question: Which installation instructions did you follow?

[pisherwood]

Originally Posted by wyldckat

Quick question: Which installation instructions did you follow?

I used these, as far as i know this is the most basic way
https://openfoam.org/download/5-0-ubuntu/

[wyldckat]

Quick answer: Then you don't need to worry about the files having been installed at "/opt". That installation will by default be available for any normal user.

If you run the following command:

ls -ld /opt/openfoam5

you should see the following:

drwxr-xr-x 10 root root 4096 Nov  5 23:11 /opt/openfoam5/

Which states that "root" (the first "rwx"), "group" (the first "r-x") and "others" (the second "r-x"), all have reading (r) and execution (x) permissions.

This means that as a normal user, you should be able to use OpenFOAM without problems. All you need to do is execute the following command as a normal user, in order to be able to run OpenFOAM's applications:

source /opt/openfoam5/etc/bashrc

In other words, follow the instructions given here: https://openfoam.org/download/5-0-ub...-configuration - section "User Configuration", follow them as a normal user and everything should work as intended. Then keep reading the instructions and it should work properly, without any additional root powers .

[CFDpal]

Originally Posted by wyldckat

Quick answer: Then you don't need to worry about the files having been installed at "/opt". That installation will by default be available for any normal user.

If you run the following command:

ls -ld /opt/openfoam5

you should see the following:

drwxr-xr-x 10 root root 4096 Nov  5 23:11 /opt/openfoam5/

Which states that "root" (the first "rwx"), "group" (the first "r-x") and "others" (the second "r-x"), all have reading (r) and execution (x) permissions.

This means that as a normal user, you should be able to use OpenFOAM without problems. All you need to do is execute the following command as a normal user, in order to be able to run OpenFOAM's applications:

source /opt/openfoam5/etc/bashrc

In other words, follow the instructions given here: https://openfoam.org/download/5-0-ub...-configuration - section "User Configuration", follow them as a normal user and everything should work as intended. Then keep reading the instructions and it should work properly, without any additional root powers .

It is also a good idea to copy some templates (tutorials) into some RUN directory. Then run applications in the run directory. In this case, you would always have ability go back.