Run multiple versions of Matlab on shared server

Hello,

Our lab has a Linux server that we use for computation. We ssh into it and run matlab from there. One of the other students in the lab runs matlab compiled code and uses an older version of matlab. I would like to use the latest one and install it alongside his version. They musn't interfere in any ways. Is it possible to do that?

Best,

-Guillaume

Answer 1

[James Tursa]

If you are simply asking if it is possible to have multiple versions of MATLAB installed on the same machine, the answer is yes.

[Guillaume]

I do know it's possible to install two versions of Matlab on the same computer. My question is: will the two different instances act completely independent from each other? Unfortunately the problem doesn't seem to be that trivial. Installing another version of Matlab seems to change some environment variables which could lead to a problem with compiled code or mex functions. I'm looking for a more detailed and technical answer.

[James Tursa]

Compiled code and mex functions should always be treated as potentially version specific. But I didn't think that was what you were asking about originally.

My experience is based solely on a single Windows machine. Each version of MATLAB installs in a different directory. I can install multiple versions of MATLAB, and in fact run these multiple versions simultaneously, without interference. Of course, if they are accessing the same files (e.g. data files) then they could easily interfere with each other. But as long as that obvious stuff is not going on I have never noticed any interference problem. E.g., changing compiler settings in one version does not affect those settings in the other version. One issue that does come up is what version of MATLAB is the default. E.g., if you running MATLAB in one version and open a MATLAB Engine app in that version, it may open the Engine in the other version of MATLAB and not the one you want. And double-clicking on an m-file may not bring up the version you want either.

As for environment variables, I don't know of any official documentation that tells you what all is used, so I can't answer that.

[Guillaume]

Okay thanks for your input.