[daip] AIPS installation fails with a fatal error because it can't find my disk

[Eric Greisen]

andrejfavia at ml1.net wrote:
> Greetings, this is Andrej Favia, current graduate UMaine astrophysics
> student.
> I need to operate AIPS on my MacBook: 2.1 GHz, 2.25 GB RAM, Mac OS X
> 10.5.8.
> 
> I have read the directions at http://www.aips.nrao.edu/dec10.shtml and
> the installation directions http://www.aips.nrao.edu/install.shtml -
> this is a binary installation run off install.pl 
> 
> I get to a point in the installation where MAKE.BNMJ seems to work, then
> AipsWiz comes up: "MAKE.BNMJ seemed to work
> (/Users/andrej/AIPS/31DEC10/MACINT/SYSTEM/NRAOCV/UPDCONFIG found).
> 
> Then I hit Enter to continue... and unfortunately this is what I get:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ====
> AipsWiz:  =====> Generate system files via FILAIP/POPSGN...
> AipsWiz: This will generate some output, including a copyright (left)
> AipsWiz: statement and some prompts, but should end with a 'Done!' if
> AipsWiz: everything worked...
> 
> AipsWiz: About to run FILAIP.  If this is a re-installation, you
> AipsWiz: will be prompted for an AIPS Manager password.  The
> AipsWiz: default password is AMANAGER
> 
> Data disk assignments:
>   (Using global default file /Users/andrej/AIPS/DA00/DADEVS.LIST for
>   DADEVS.PL)
> DADEVS.PL error - no disks selected at all
> This is a FATAL error and nothing in AIPS will work.
> 
> *********************************************************
> HELP!  No Defined data areas!  You can proceed now to run
> program FILAIP, but you may see LOTS of complaints about
> not being able to access the message file.  If you think
> there should have been some data areas defined, please
> check DADEVS.LIST or .dadevs files, or AIPSASSN.\*
> *********************************************************
> If you want to proceed, enter YES (uppercase) now:
> AipsWiz: Error: FILAIP did not work, or there's a missing file!
> AipsWiz: Error: This may mean that FILAIP did not work (it should have
> AipsWiz: Error: created it and many other files in that area).
> AipsWiz: Error: You can try running it by hand after (a) dotting the
> AipsWiz: Error: LOGIN.SH file or sourcing the LOGIN.CSH file; and
> AipsWiz: Error: (b) Typing 'RUN FILAIP'.  You will then be asked for
> AipsWiz: Error: two parameters.  Use
> 8 2
> 
> AipsWiz: Error: as the standard values.
> AipsWiz: Error: You will also have to RUN POPSGN if that works;
> 
> AipsWiz: Error: Feed it
> 
> 0 POPSDAT TST
> 
> 
> AipsWiz: Error: when it asks for Idebug, etc. and press RETURN when
> AipsWiz: Error: you see the '>' prompt.
> 
> 
> 
> AipsWiz: Install Wizard stopping.  Current settings saved in ~/.AIPSRC
> AipsWiz: Abandoning ship!  Goodbye.
> ========================================================================
> andrej-favias-imac-g5-2:AIPS andrej$ 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ====
> 
> 
> 
> Alright...
> So
> The directions told me to check various files before continuing past
> this step. But I know so little about AIPS that I have no idea what to
> check and how to check it.
> 
> I was directed to check the file located at $AIPS_PATH/DA00/DADEVS.LIST
> , and I found an Internet email address, so hence I am using this
> address to ask for support.
> 
> I couldn't find any "official forums" online, just a mailing list, nor
> could I find anyone else online who had reported this problem.
> 
> So, why is this happening?

My best bet is that the file names you chose for data areas are not 
being recognized.  We run in places where 100+ computers share the aips 
installation so the software that did not find a data area is looking 
for a data area with your computer's name in it (or LOCALHOST is you did 
what you probably should on a laptop installation).

The DADEVS file should list a data area such as

/DATA/PRIMATE_1
/home/primate2/AIPS/PRIMATE_2

for my computer (primate).  If you told it that you are on a laptop then

/home/mymachine/AIPS/LOCALHOST_1

would be appropriate.  To decide what to do

cd $AIPS_ROOT
source LOGIN.CSH     (or . LOGIN.SH for bash shells)
echo $ARCH
echo $HOST

then create data areas that include your host name in upper case 
letters.  Put them in the DADEVS.LIST file to which you were directed 
and RUN FILAIP and RUN POPSGN as directed.

Hope this helps.

Eric Greisen