Matlab@Otago

There are two types of installation depending on the whether computer is permanently on the University network.

• Computer always on the  University network: Concurrent License

These require a current license file which points at a license server which issues a license on demand when Matlab is started.  This is the  preferred method as it minimises license administration.

This license covers use by staff or in research and teaching labs on University owned desktops.

The first step is to talk to your departmental IT staff who may already know how to go about installation and have installation software. If they don't, ask them to talk to one of the divisional experts listed on the install problems page.

• Laptops and those computers not connected to the campus network: Designated Computer License

For University owned laptops which need to be used away from the campus network there is an individual computer license. This type of license is also for staff use at home. This license is locked to a designated computer's hardware MAC address. Designated computer licenses are obtained from ITS, see ITS Matlab site for forms. Staff users at home need to fill this form.

To run Matlab you will need system requirements.

How to install Matlab under the Otago TAH site license

There are three parts to the installation

1. Obtaining a) file installation key b) license file and c) access to the Matlab software install binaries
2. Installing Matlab software on the user's computer,
3. Activating the software with a license file.

License files are backward compatible. They should work with pre-TAH Matlab versions 2008a onwards, when activation was first introduced. However any pre-TAH Matlab versions will need to be updated to get access to its tool boxes. After migrating to the TAH any toolboxes from old versions which are not in the TAH will no longer be available. All pre-TAH University Matlab licenses are now frozen, but they can be reawakened in the future if Otago elects to end the TAH site license.

1) Obtaining a license key, file and Matlab binaries

Obtaining license file and Matlab binaries/installation software differs depending on the type of license

1a) Concurrent license for computers on campus network. These can be freely distributed by departmental IT staff for use on University owned computers within their departments. They can get access to a license server within your Division or one at ITS. They can also get binaries from the ITS software server. All user's computers have the same license file (usually network.lic). A concurrent license file only has two lines telling it where to find a license server on the network and does not need to change when updating versions of Matlab or at license renewal.

1b) Designated Computer for Laptops or off campus use. Contact ITS site license office to order Matlab, see ITS Matlab site for forms and details. They will need to know

• Computer operating system
• The computer's Ethernet cards hardware mac address, e.g. a number like 7A:50:B4:93:93:CE
• Computer description to make it easier to identify
• Users email address, Department and Division
• What version of Matlab you plan to use, latest version or another e.g. 2011b

These will be used to generate a license file (usually named license.lic ) which arrives by email direct from Mathworks (if you don't get an email first check your junk/spam folder).The email also contains an installation key which will be required as the first stage of installing the software. Keep a backup copy of your license file and key in case you need to reinstall Matlab at some stage. ITS will also provide access to software by giving logon instructions to a software support network drive holding the software.

2) Installing the Matlab software on a user's computer

For both forms of license the software installation steps are the same. Select the appropriate files to install. Need to choose between operating systems, i.e Windows version or Mac/Linux/Unix version and between 32 bit or 64 bit versions.

Note: Matlab with all the TAH's tool boxes takes 1.8GB of disk space. If you only need some of the tool boxes select a custom install and untick the toolboxes not required.

2a) Run the Matlab install program

2b) Select the install without the internet option

Select  “Activate manually without Internet”

2c) Use the provided file installation key when requested

Select “Provide the path to license file:” and browse to license file.

Alternatively  if  you are not asked for a license  file, then before starting Matlab for the  first time copy the license file in the folder named "licenses" within the folder where  Matlab  is installed.