How do I install MATLAB to a custom directory at the root level on Linux systems?

How do I install MATLAB to a custom directory at the root level on Linux systems?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

On Linux systems, the MathWorks installer installs MATLAB to the following default location:

/usr/local/MATLAB/<releaseName>

If you do not have access to the default location, and need to install MATLAB at the root level:

1. Create a directory at the root level with appropriate read, write and access permissions using the mkdir command. For example:

mkdir -m<permissionNumber> /matlabdir

2. Launch the MathWorks installer by executing:

xhost +SI:localuser:root
sudo -H ./install
xhost -SI:localuser:root

3. When prompted by the installer to select an installation folder, select the folder you created, and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Creating a directory at the root level and installing software into that directory comes with security risks. Please be aware of the risks prior to proceeding. If you are a single user and you do not have access to directories at the root level, it is preferable you install MATLAB to your home directory.

[Walter Roberson]

Note that on Linux systems, the root filesystem / might be configured as read-only -- https://wiki.debian.org/ReadonlyRoot (debian) or https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/8/html/managing_file_systems/setting-read-only-permissions-for-the-root-file-system_managing-file-systems (RedHat) for example.

The last several years, the / filesystem on MacOS has been readonly.