Installing OpenFOAM 2.2.x on openSUSE 12.3

The following procedure illustrates how to install OpenFOAM 2.2.x from the git repository on openSUSE 12.3, for the current users.

1. Install the C/C++ development pattern:

   • zypper install -t pattern devel_C_C++

2. Install other dependencies (gnuplot is optional, but useful):

   • zypper install cmake gnuplot openmpi openmpi-devel git-core

   • zypper install libqt4-devel libQtWebKit-devel libQtAssistantClient4

3. Check that openmpi 1.6 is selected as default with:

   • mpi-selector --list

   • The output should read: “openmpi-1.6”. If not, use mpi-selector to configure the default version of openmpi (this can be done for the individual user or system-wide, acquiring administrative rights)
4. Create the OpenFOAM directory in your home directory:

   • mkdir ~/OpenFOAM

5. Move to the OpenFOAM directory:

   • cd ~/OpenFOAM

6. Download the source code from the git repository:

   • git clone http://github.com/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-2.2.x.git

7. Download the ThirdParty package from here (command on a single line) :
   • wget -c downloads.sourceforge.net/foam/ThirdParty-2.2.0.tgz?use_mirror=mesh -O ThirdParty-2.2.0.gtgz
8. Extract the ThirdParty package and rename it as follows:

   • tar xzf ThirdParty-2.2.0.gtgz

   • mv ThirdParty-2.2.0 ThirdParty-2.2.x

9. Add this  prefs.sh file to the directory:

   • ~/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-2.2.x/etc/

10. Add the following line to your ~/.bashrc file:
    • [Optional for multi-core compilation, replace 4 with the number of cores you want to use]: export WM_NCOMPPROCS=4

    • source $HOME/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-2.2.x/etc/bashrc

11. Open a new terminal and execute this sequence of commands to compile the whole OpenFOAM suite

    • source ~/.bashrc

    • cd ~/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-2.2.x

    • ./Allwmake

12. To build paraview and its reader:

    • cd ~/OpenFOAM/ThirdParty-2.2.x

    • ./makeParaView

    • cd $FOAM_UTILITIES/postProcessing/graphics/PV3Readers/

    • ./Allwclean

    • ./Allwmake

13. At this point OpenFOAM 2.2.x should be fully functional on your openSUSE 12.3. The installation can be updated, as usual, with:

    • cd ~/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-2.2.x

    • git pull

    • wcleanLnIncludeAll

    • ./Allwmake

Note: If you have an accelerated video card, like nVidia or ATI, it is strongly recommended to install the corresponding proprietary driver.

Enjoy 🙂

This offering is not approved or endorsed by OpenCFD Limited, the producer of the OpenFOAM software and owner of the OPENFOAM® and OpenCFD® trade marks. Alberto Passalacqua is not associated to OpenCFD Ltd.