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How to install and run Paraview on Linux

How to build Paraview on Linux

  1. Download the latest release from the Paraview website. The file is paraview-2.2.1-x86-linux.tar.gz
  2. Untar the file into some directory:
    3. % tar zxvf paraview-2.2.1-x86-linux.tar.gz
  3. Create a build directory:
    4. % mkdir build
    % cd build
  4. Run ccmake to configure the Makefiles:
    5. % ccmake ../paraview-2.2.1
  5. Here are the ccmake options that need to be set:
    6. CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX /projects/vis/tools/paraview-2.2.1
    CMAKE_VERBOSE_MAKEFILE ON
    MPI_INCLUDE_PATH /usr/local/apps/mpich-1.2.5.2/include
    MPI_LIBRARY /usr/local/apps/mpich-1.2.5.2/lib/libpmpich.a
    OPENGL_INCLUDE_DIR /projects/vis/tools/mesa-6.4.1/include
    OPENGL_gl_LIBRARY /projects/vis/tools/mesa-6.4.1/lib/libmGL.a
    OPENGL_glu_LIBRARY /projects/vis/tools/mesa-6.4.1/lib/libmGLU.a
    OSMESA_INCLUDE_DIR /projects/vis/tools/mesa-6.4.1/include
    OSMESA_LIBRARY /projects/vis/tools/mesa-6.4.1/lib/libmOSMesa.a
    VTK_MPIRUN_EXE /usr/local/apps/mpich-1.2.5.2/bin/mpirun
    VTK_OPENGL_HAS_OSMESA ON
    VTK_USE_MPI ON

    Use the appropriate Mesa and MPI lirraries installed on your system.

  6. Make the distribution:
    % make
    % make install

How to run Paraview on Linux

Stand-alone Client
% ./paraview
Client to Server
% ./pvserver
% ./pvclient --server-host=machine.sdsc.edu
Client to parallel Server
% mpirun -v -machinefile machines.txt -np 4 pvserver --use-offscreen-rendering
(machines.txt contains a list of server machines)
% ./pvclient --server-host=machine.sdsc.edu

How to run the Paraview server on DataStar

Start pvserver on DataStar:

% ssh dsdirect.sdsc.edu
% cd /usr/local/apps32/paraview-2.2.1/bin
% ./pvserver.sh

Start pvclient on another machine:

% ./pvclient --server-host=dsdirect.sdsc.edu --server-port=12345

How to load raw binary volume data into Paraview

  1. Select the File -> Open Data menu item.
  2. Select "Files of type: All Files (*.*)" and the raw volume.
  3. You will get a message: "Could not find an appropriate reader for file". Click OK.
  4. Select the "Raw (binary) Files Reader".
  5. In the "Parameters" tab, specify the following fields:
    • Data type: byte, short, int, float, etc.
    • Extent: [ 0 ][X-1][ 0 ][Y-1][ 0 ][Z-1]

      • For example, if the volume resolution is 750 x 375 x 100, then set:
      Extent: [ 0 ][749][ 0 ][374][ 0 ][ 99]
  6. Press the [Accept] button.


Paraview Visualization of SCEC Data

Note: Place your cursor over the images to see full-sized versions.

Surface representation of the volume.
  1. Dataset: vol_vy.03600
  2. Select the "Display" tab.
  3. Representation: "Surface"

Volume Render. Can only run on a single node.
  1. Select the "Filter" -> "Tetrahedralize" menu item.
  2. Select the "Display" tab.
  3. Representation: "Volume Render"

Isosurface generated in parallel on the mfarm cluster.
  1. Press the "Generate isosurfaces" icon.
  2. Add "Contour Values".

Isosurface generated in parallel on the mfarm cluster.
  1. Select the "Filter" -> "Process Id Scalars" menu item.
  2. Select the "Display" tab.
  3. Color by: "Point Piece"

Isosurface generated in parallel on DataStar.
  1. Select the "Filter" -> "Process Id Scalars" menu item.
  3. Select the "Display" tab.
  4. Color by: "Point Piece"

Extract Grid in parallel on DataStar.
  1. Select the "Filter" -> "Extract Grid" menu item.
  2. Select the "Parameters" tab.
  3. Set the K: "Min" and "Max" values to extract a slice from the volume.
  4. Press the [Accept] button.
  5. Generate an isosurface of the sliced grid.

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