How to install Geant4?

1. On Linux & Windows/Cygwin

Here's the script I wrote to install G4 (with CLHEP of course, but also with GDML(XERCESC) & Wired4)
automatically on Linux or Windows using Cygwin without Microsoft Visual C++.
Shortcuts to extra tools and visualisation drivers are also installed, namely:

Two files should be downloaded geant4_installationFromScratch.sh and geant4_clean_LD_LIBRARY_PATH.pl (this should be simplified some day).
Copy these files in the directory you want G4 to be installed (this directory should not contain any white space characters)
and launch geant4_installationFromScratch.sh (you'll need an internet connection).
If it fails (of course it should not), open geant4_installationFromScratch.sh, try to understand what it does to locate where it went wrong.
Before relaunching it, comment everything already achieved (downloads, architecture building, ...) except lines starting by export and cd.
Feel also free to contact me.

2. On VMware

Alternatively, one could use the CENBG G4/VMware release where everything is already installed!
Check the "hints" section! (exchange directory, memory & processor configuration, ...)
I never managed to download VMware Player from the official website
It can easily be found elsewhere (Ask Google).

Activating the network is a bit of a hassle.
Below's how to proceed:

  1. Open a DOS shell, type ipconfig and note the 'VMnet8' IP address (let's say 192.168.xxx.1)
  2. Launch WMware and open the network config window (Applications/System Settings/Network)
  3. In the 'Devices' tab, double-click on eth0 and enter the following static IP addresses (no DHCP)
    > Address : 192.168.xxx.10 / Subnet mask : 255.255.255.0 / Default gateway address : 192.168.xxx.2
  4. Then go to the 'DNS' tab and set
    > Primary DNS : 192.168.xxx.2
  5. Go back to the 'Devices' tab, and click on 'Activate'

This should work...

If nothing happens (ping cern.ch or web browser), go to the VMplayer install directory and launch vmnetcfg.exe.
In the 'DHCP' tab, check that VMnet8 and VMnet1 are not 'stopped'. If this is the case, click on 'Start'.
If it refuses to start, check that the VMware services are on (/Start/Run.../msconfig/Startup).
If they are not, tick them, and restart your machine.
Hopefully, this will work...

In case of further trouble, feel free to ask xxx.


Back to Table of Contents
Copyright: Mathieu Trocmé, Mon 28 Dec 2009 (14:13:46)