Installing Matlab on Linux (Arco)

When I run the installation script as root the installer window never apperes while when I run it as a normal user it appers just fine. When running as root this process appears.

matlab/bin/glnxa64/MathWorksProductInstaller

[Rik]

You selected R2012b as your release. Can you confirm this? Are you not trying to install R2021b?

Answer 1

[Simar]

Hi Christodoulos,

I understand that you are experiencing an issue with the graphical installer of MATLAB not appearing when attempting to run the installation script as the root user.

It indicates an issue with graphical session permissions or environment variables not being correctly passed or recognized in the root environment. This is a common scenario in Linux systems where the X11 server (which handles the graphical display) has restrictions or does not grant the root user access by default for security reasons.

Here are few workarounds to troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

• Allowing temporary Root Access to X11 using xhost: Before running the installer as root, allow the root user to display GUI applications on the current user's X session by running:

     xhost +SI:localuser:root 

After installation is done, for security reasons, revoke this permission using:

     xhost -SI:localuser:root 

• Avoid Running GUI Applications as Root: It is recommended to avoid due to security risks. Instead, run the installer as a normal user and provide root access only when necessary. Most installers, including MATLAB's, will request elevated permissions if they need to write to protected areas of the filesystem.
• Check for Logs and Verbose Output: If the issue persists, look for any log files generated by the installer in the temporary directory or specified output directory. Running the installer with verbose or debug options (if available) might also provide more insights.

The root cause of the issue revolves around how root interacts with the X11 graphical server. The solutions provided aim to address common scenarios related to this interaction.

If problem persists, consider checking specific documentation for Linux distribution regarding root access to GUI applications.

Hope it helps!

Best Regards,

Simar