Linux distribution recommendation¶

We list our experience and current progress here.

Our Preference : CentOS 5.x¶

If you have a new computer(s) for your Leginon/Appion installation, we recommend installing CentOS because it is considered to be more stable than other varieties of Linux.

CentOS is the same as Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), except that it is free and supported by the community.

We have most experience in the installation of the supporting packages on CentOS and this installation guide has specific instruction for the process.

Start at Instructions for installing CentOS on your computer.

Other known cases of success:¶

Fedora 10¶

• Database server - Works
• Processing server - Works
• Web server - Works

Start at Instructions for installing Fedora on your computer

SuSE, Ubuntu¶

• Database server - Works
• Processing server - Works
• Web server - Our php-mrc module, which is needed by the Leginon/Appion web server, does not work on php 5.3 and above. Since current SuSE and Ubuntu distros come with php 5.3 or above, you will need to down grade to php 5.2.
• The latest myami trunk now includes redux, a replacement for the php-mrc module. This has led to further testing and success with myami on Ubuntu.

MacOS¶

• Database server - Works
• Processing server - Most bits working on MacOSX, but some of the appion python libraries contain ancient Fortran code that does not compile easily on a Mac and Leginon gui is defected because wxPython does not hide its objects properly.
• Web server - php-mrc module does not function although compiled.