[leo_NM]

hey guys

Has anyone installed opemfoam on win 7 64 bits?

Any tips that I have to be aware of ??

thanks

[wyldckat]

Greetings Leo_NM,

Some time ago a dedicated page was written at openfoamwiki.net on this subject, namely about using OpenFOAM on Windows: http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/Windows

As for tips... there about a ton of them, so it might be easier if you ask what you specifically want to know

Best regards,
Bruno

[leo_NM]

I read on ubuntu website that I can download ubuntu and run it with windowns. Can I run Opem foam on ubuntu installing the operational system this way ?

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...u-with-windows

thanks

[wyldckat]

Yes you can follow those instructions.

• The downside is that while in Ubuntu, you won't be able to use (most) Windows applications, because you won't be able to use Windows and Ubuntu at the same time.
• The upside is that while in Ubuntu, OpenFOAM will run faster and it'll be very unlikely that you catch any computer virus or worms

[mihaipruna]

maybe try one of these:

http://code.google.com/p/bluecfd-sin...wiki/UserGuide
http://www.paratools.com/OpenFOAM

[leo_NM]

Is the windows version complete with all the functionalities of the linux version ?

thanks

[wyldckat]

Hi Leo_NM,

Short answer: yes and no, because it depends on where or from who you get your personal build/copy of (unofficial) OpenFOAM for Windows.

What I know and can tell you is this:

• We at blueCAPE (we're I work) have done our best to bring as much as possible of OpenFOAM and related contributions (such as swak4Foam) onto Windows and we distribute the whole working package in our product/service named blueCFD. So basically, if something in OpenFOAM works on Linux, we'll make it work on Windows as well, including compiling OpenFOAM source code directly on Windows. The short link to blueCFD's page is this: http://joomla.bluecape.com.pt/blueCFD/
• blueCFD-SingleCore is a subset of blueCFD, providing access to the modified OpenFOAM source code used in blueCFD, as well as providing the same core binaries that come with blueCFD... with the exception of the libraries for running in parallel. A table comparing blueCFD-SingleCore and blueCFD are shown at the front page: http://code.google.com/p/bluecfd-singlecore/
• http://www.paratools.com/OpenFOAM - this provides a profiling version made in cooperation between Symscape and ParaTools. You can use OpenFOAM on Windows (64bit only, if I'm not mistaken) and get formated files for ParaTools with profiling data, indicating how much time was spent during execution on each sub-task. The downside is that these should be slower binaries, since they take some time with logging profile information, but I honestly don't know how slower it might be.
• Which leads to Symscape's offering: http://www.symscape.com/product/openflow - FYI: has more limitations than blueCFD, when it comes to OpenFOAM itself
• You can also check the threads shown on the following sub-forum: http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/ope...n-windows-mac/ - there you should find builds of OpenFOAM based on both Symscape's and blueCAPE's patches/modifications. The downside is that those binaries usually come with almost no support...
• Another source for information about the various modifications of OpenFOAM for Windows out there: http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/Ti...mportant_Links

So, to sum up, currently using OpenFOAM directly on Windows comes in two flavors:

• supported, for a fee;
• and unsupported, which basically means that you're even more on your own.

But keep in mind that none of these modifications are «not approved or endorsed by Silicon Graphics International Corp., the producer of the OpenFOAM® software and owner of the OpenFOAM® trade mark.»



If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

Best regards,
Bruno

PS: By the way, if you feel this is too much information... then maybe OpenFOAM isn't the CFD tool for you Because you're going to have to read a looooot to understand how to properly use OpenFOAM

[mihaipruna]

that was greatly informative Bruno!

I think it's not hard to set up a VM running Ubuntu and follow the installation instructions for OpenFOAM. Compared to figuring out all the dictionaries, that part is simple
This is a completely free option, of course, and, running it the same way most people do you are (most of the time) sure to find a solution online to any issue you might have.

http://www.openfoam.org/download/

[leo_NM]

Awesome !!!

Thank you guys for the information !!

[Jaggy_Snake]

Hi, sorry for bringing up an old thread but I didn't think it worth starting a new one.


I'm an aero undergrad and have been recommended openFOAM by a lecturer for a project I'm doing. (I need to model an aircraft wing)

I'm running Windows7 64 bit and, as far as I understand, I can install Unbuntu via VirtualBox then use OpenFOAM.

I've never used a Linux OS nor have I used OpenFOAM. Previous CFD experience is from fairly limited use of NUMECA.

I don't have very advanced computer skills and I only have a month or so to get a decent simulation going. Will I struggle to install and use openFOAM via VirtualBox, and would I be better trying something like Paratools or blueCFD??


Thanks in advance.

[JLight]

I have a working install for win 7 (64-bit) that used openMPI. The forum-thread is located here.

Hope it helps.

I am in the process of writing out how I was able to compile it. So you can set it you in a virtual Machine so you can develop and build new solvers, if you want to.

Cheers!

NJ

[elvis]

Hi,

Bruno makes a great job and gives great support so it is never a bad investment to buy his product.
http://www.tfd.chalmers.se/~hani/kur..._commands.html
http://openfoam-extend.sourceforge.n...m/training.htm
http://openfoam-extend.sourceforge.n...7_Program.html
might be useful material that exceeds User Guide

[Lieven]

Hello Fergus,

Will I struggle to install and use openFOAM via VirtualBox

This part should not be so difficult. Have a look at http://www.openfoam.com/resources/windows.php where the whole process is explained step by step.

I don't have very advanced computer skills and I only have a month or so to get a decent simulation going.

This might be a bit more tricky. OpenFOAM is certainly not the type of software where you can (graphically) click a few times and, no matter what you clicked, an output will pop up. If you don't get your input correct, you won't obtain a (converged) solution. But in my opinion, this is not a bad thing.
It will also require to use the terminal and knowledge of a number of basic commands is a must. In that respect I strongly recommend you to check out the links posted by Elvis.

[wyldckat]

Greetings to all!

Just to add a another detail to the conversation - if you have problems with using and/or installing VirtualBox, you can also try VMPlayer: http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/Ho..._VMware_Player

Best regards,
Bruno

[Jaggy_Snake]

Cheers for the replies lads,

I'll give it a decent shot. Am I right to assume that you'd all suggest using linux over using something like Paratools or blueCFD?

[wyldckat]

Hi Jaggy_Snake,

Originally Posted by Jaggy_Snake

Am I right to assume that you'd all suggest using linux over using something like Paratools or blueCFD?

It all depends on your will power and resources! Linux is the preferred platform for using OpenFOAM, with several Linux Distributions to pick from.
Probably the quickest ones to start with would be probably Ubuntu (or even Mint) and you can either install them in a virtual machine (using VirtualBox or VMPlayer); or you can even use their "seemlessly install from Windows" that works as if it were just another program: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...u-with-windows

If you are able to adapt to Ubuntu or any other Linux Distribution, sooner or later you will start to forget that Windows ever existed
On the other hand, if you develop an allergic reaction to Linux Distributions as some people have, you'll possibly end up back on Windows.

Wait... since you only have a month (i.e. 30 days or less) to work on this, you might want to take the trial way of things and give a shot to one of the original creators of patches for OpenFOAM to run directly on Windows and try out their product that can also interface with OpenFOAM: http://www.symscape.com/
Although if you're expecting that the project might take longer than 30 days, then you might want to contact them for more information, just in case...

Best regards,
Bruno

[Jaggy_Snake]

Thanks again, Bruno.

I installed Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. Didn't get as far as installing OpenFOAM as I wanted to play around with the OS a little which is completely new to me. From the start the OS was very sluggish; I did a bit of reading and a is seems a number of people have been having slowness problems using this host/guest combo' - various fixes are suggested but none seem particularly satisfactory. https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/10790

I've now downloaded version 10.04 LTS which is currently installing in the hope that it will run smoother.

If I'm not up and running in the next few days I'll look into one of the windows compatible solutions.

[elvis]

Hi,

I wonder if it is not more easy to run a OpenFOAMinstallation on a LIVE-USBstick.
Do not know what the speed advantage or disadvantage is compared to a Virtual machine.

I think that you get a Live USBstick on a commercial OpenFOAM Training, so it can not be that bad to use that.
http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/USB-Stick

[Doug68]

Jaggy_Snake,

I found myself in a similar position to yourself in that I don't know Linux at all well, so either I had to learn Linux or get OpenFOAM on Windows. I fealt that there's a steep enough learning curve with OpenFOAM without putting another layer of learning on top of that just for fun.

So I purchased the BlueCape version and am very happy with it, the $ investment versus the reduction in grief in getting going has well and truly been worth it from my point of view.

There is still some amount of Linux type language to learn in the files that control OpenFOAM, but that's been the most minor of the issues.

[Jaggy_Snake]

Guys,

Further to my previous post, I jiggled around with my VM settings and now have Ubuntu 12.04 up and running smooth. (I suspect the biggest change was selecting fixed rather than dynamically expanding HDD size) OpenFOAM 2.1.1 and Paraview 3.12.0 both appear to have been installed correctly

Now for the hard bit of actually doing some CFD...


Doug, thanks for your insight. I was pulling hair out for a day over virtual machines and almost resorted to BlueFOAM, however things seem to be going OK now. In my case, I reckon a bit of experience using Linux is worth the learning curve considering I'm still undergrad i.e at the start of my career.