[MechBoom]

Hello all, first post here. Of course it's a big question too!

So, I just accepted a research assistant position next semester and the professor I'll be working under uses openFoam for his CFD. I've got this summer to learn the basics of openFoam.

Here's my question. I only have access to a Windows 8 computer. I'm wondering what's the best way to go about installing openFoam on this machine? I've seen the windows port of version 1.5 but that's from 2009 or 10. I am open to any and all suggestions, and thanks ahead for all your help!

[JR22]

I say install VirtualBox with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS as guest system, then a typical installation of OpenFoam 2.2 (binaries for Ubuntu). I have it under a Win8 system and works pretty well.

If you do something wrong with your guest system installation, you can always delete it and install a new one.

[MechBoom]

Thanks! I'm in the process of downloading and installing everything. Now I only have to figure out how to use openFoam!!

[JR22]

Make sure you give the VirtualBox with Ubuntu a good amount of space so you can run models comfortably.... 50GB will allow you a good room to install everything and run the "tutorials". There are some videos on YouTube that guide you through the VirtualBox installation, the OpenFoam official binary instructions are good for OpenFoam installation, and there are also some YouTube videos that show you how to run some of the tutorials (those that have the Allrun scripts and those that don't). Don't forget to install the thirdparty stuff (mostly paraview/paraFoam).

I would create an additional VirtualBox with Openfoam-2.1.1 and Helyx-OS. It is a real fast way to create models from you own geometry. It creates an alternative file structure that you have to change to run your own openfoam models, but it helps with the learning. If you follow my posts, you will find my recent history of frustrations and steps in learning.

[Amir1]

I am quite new and beginner to OpenFoam and Ubunto.

Could you please help me out how I can instal OpenFoam and Ubunto on Win 7?
I dont know about VirtualBox.

When should I start installing them? which one first?

Thanks,
Amnir

[haakon]

Have you seen this: http://www.openfoam.com/resources/windows.php ?

[saeed115]

virtual box is a software that let u use the virtual space(apart of your hard disk) to load linux on it and start and work with openfoam on that virtual linux space...its not bad but it has a problem and the problem is its not too fast if you want to run a project on it.because u have put some part of your hard disk and memory for that virtual box.
any way if you want to use you have to first install virtuall box software and then run linux and open foam on it.........G.L

[haakon]

Originally Posted by saeed115

virtual box is a software that let u use the virtual space(apart of your hard disk) to load linux on it and start and work with openfoam on that virtual linux space...its not bad but it has a problem and the problem is its not too fast if you want to run a project on it.because u have put some part of your hard disk and memory for that virtual box.
any way if you want to use you have to first install virtuall box software and then run linux and open foam on it.........G.L

Have you ever tried VirtualBox? My personal experience is that as long as you have enough memory and a decent processor that support VT-x (for Intel) or AMD-V the speed is approximately the same as if you run Linux natively. Just be aware that most laptops come with these features deactivated, and you need to manually enter BIOS to enable them. Until you do that the performance might suffer.

Related to storage, you can either set up a dynamically expanding disk, in that way you specify just a maximum size, for example 64 GB, and if you only use for example 8 GB, that is the space it really occupies. Be aware that it does not shrink automatically, tough (can be shrinked manually). The other option is to create a shared folder between your "host" file system and your "guest" system. Place this folder on the host file system, and you can fill it with simulation data until your hard drive is full.

Regarding memory that will not affect the speed of your simulation, as long as you have sufficient memory to avoid swapping everything will run smooth.