Fermi Solar Data Analysis Workshop

August 22-23, 2012
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD

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Fermi Solar Data Analysis Workshop Software Installation Instructions

The workshop will include sessions on analysis of GBM (day 1) and LAT (day 2) data, including the LAT Low Energy (LLE) event selection. Analysis of GBM data will be presented in both the SSW/OSPEX and RMFIT frameworks. Analysis of LAT data will be presented using the LAT Science Tools, with joint fitting of the GBM and LLE data in XSPEC.

Virtual machine: We have prepared a Scientific Linux virtual machine installation which is a self-contained operating system with pre-installed IDL, SSW/OSPEX, RMFIT, HEASOFT, and the Science Tools. The IDL installation includes a temporary license good through Aug 31, 2012. The users must first install a virtual machine environment such as VirtualBox or VMware, and then the user will load the prepared ISO file which contains the virtual operating system. The virtual machine is intended for use specifically at this workshop. Although Windows and Linux users can select either VirtualBox or VMware , we recommend VMware as it easier to set up and extend. Mac users must select the VirtualBox installation. There will likely be additional software updates to download closer to the workshop.

• Installing VMWare (Windows, Linux)
• Installing VirtualBox (Windows, Mac, Linux)
• Virtual machine downloads

For longer-term data analysis uses, the user may want to install some or all components on their native operating system as appropriate (see platform-dependent information below).

Self-Installation (non-virtual machine instructions - not recommended for workshop):

• SSW/OSPEX
• LAT Science Tools: Follow the instructions from the FSSC
• RMFIT: The version included in the VM is a release candidate, and is therefore not supported by the GBM team beyond the VM setup. A new official version will be released via the FSSC soon, but it may not be prior to the workshop.
• HEASOFT: Select your operating system to download a binary and the packages "General use-FTOOLs" and "XANADU"
• Python LAT Scripts

Windows Users:

The Fermi Science Tools and RMFIT will only run on Linux or Mac operating systems. Therefore, you must install the virtual machine to run these tools. For the workshop, we strongly recommend use of the virtual machine.

Self-Installation:
- SSW/OSPEX - instructions above

Mac Users:

For the workshop, we strongly recommend installation of the virtual machine. It is much easier and faster than the individual tool installations. All individual components will run on Mac OS if you choose to install them natively, but there are complicated dependencies.

Self-Installation:
- SSW/OSPEX - instructions above
- LAT Science Tools: Follow the instructions from the FSSC. Note that OS 10.7 (Lion) users should install the 10.6 (Snow Leopard) binary. Do not compile the source code on Lion.
- RMFIT: The workshop VM version of RMFIT is not available for self-installation. The version on FSSC User Contributed Software page is not meant for solar flare analysis. A new version will be released soon.
- HEASOFT: install binary
- Python LAT Scripts

Linux Users:

For the workshop, we strongly recommend installation of the virtual machine. It is much easier and faster than the individual tool installations. All individual components will run on Linux if you choose to install them natively, but there are complicated dependencies.

Self-Installation:
- SSW/OSPEX - instructions above
- LAT Science Tools: Follow the instructions from the FSSC above.
- RMFIT: The workshop VM version of RMFIT is not available for self-installation. The version on FSSC User Contributed Software page is not meant for solar flare analysis. A new version will be released soon.
- HEASOFT: install binary
- Python LAT Scripts

Testing Your Installation (whether via VM or full installation):

login to the VM, username: fermiuser, password: fermipw

click on Terminal icon on desktop

• SSW/OSPEX
  • at a terminal type: sswidl
  • type: o=ospex()
  • if a window pops up, installation appears to be successful
  • type: exit
  • more information on OSPEX: http://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/fermi_solar/
• RMFIT
  • at a terminal type: idl
  • type: rmfit
  • if a window pops up, installation appears to be successful
  • type: exit
  • for more information on RMFIT: http://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssc/data/analysis/user/vc_rmfit_tutorial.pdf
• Science Tools
  • at a terminal type: gtbin
  • if it says something like "This is gtbin version ScienceTools-v9r27p1-fssc-20120410", then your installation appears to be successful
  • hit control-c to exit
  • for more information on the science tools: http://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssc/data/analysis/scitools/
• HEASOFT
  • at a terminal type: xspec
  • XSPEC version: 12.7.1 should open
  • type: exit

If any of the above do not work properly, please email with as much detail as possible to fermihelp@milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov and mention that you are attending the Solar Workshop.

For question or more information, please contact: judith.racusin@nasa.gov