Linux Installation

Installation of Jim under Linux is in six stages:

  1. Install Java if not already installed
  2. Install the Jim software
  3. Request a license
  4. Install the license
  5. Customise the installation (optional)
  6. Download some example images (optional)

Java Installation. You must have 64-bit Java version 25 installed, which can be downloaded from the Oracle Java Archive. Jim will only run with Java 25.

Installing Jim. Once you have the Java 25 installed, download and install the Jim program.

Note: If you are re-installing the same version of Jim, copy your existing license file (license.txt) from the installation directory to a safe place.

  1. Save jim-10-installer.jar in a temporary directory on your system, or on your Desktop. Open a terminal window and change directory (cd) to the directory containing jim-10-installer.jar

  2. If you want to install for personal use, and and not for all the users on your system, type:
    java -jar jim-10-installer.jar

    If you see a message "Invalid Java version", then you will need to give the full path to the Java 25 command, e.g.
    /opt/java25/bin/java -jar jim-10-installer.jar
    where, in this example, java 25 was installed in /opt/java25.

  3. For system-wide installation (for all users), first type:
    xhost +
    to allow the installer to access the display. Then type:
    sudo env DISPLAY=:0.0 /opt/java25/bin/java -jar jim-10-installer.jar
    where again, java 25 was installed in /opt/java25.

  4. An installer window will now appear, and you will be asked to choose an installation directory. Make a note of the installation directory you choose.

License Request. The easiest way to obtain the details needed to send for a license is to try starting Jim. If you have not yet received a license file, you will see a pop-up error dialog like the one shown below.

Pop-up window showing no license (Linux)

You will see a line that says something like:

  • This computer's Host ID is "000123456789"
    E-mail this string of digits/letters to Sending for a license.

Note: you can automatically compose an e-mail to request the license if you click the Button to compose an e-mail button.

Note: use your professional or institutional email address. If you do not, you may not receive a reply.

Note: this is not an automated service, and there will be a delay before you receive your license file.

Be careful when copying the hostid: if you send the incorrect hostid, Jim will not work. Each hostid is 12 characters long, and consists of the digits 0..9 and the letters A..F.

If you have purchased network (floating) licenses, you can set up the connection to your license server by clicking on the Button to connect to a license server button. See the instructions for setting up a connection to a license server.

Install the License. The license file you will receive by e-mail should be saved to a text file, and copied into the directory where you installed Jim (normally /opt/Xinapse/Jim10). Ensure that the name of this file is "license.txt". The installation directory is the directory that also contains (amongst others) the file "xinapse10.jar".

If you have any problems launching Jim, e-mail Xinapse Systems support who will help you to resolve the problem.

Now see the section on customising a UNIX installation.

You may also wish to download some example images to get you going with Jim.