Salome Meca 2024.1 on WSL2 ready to use distribution

basile-simvia

Salome vs. Salome-Meca vs. Code_Aster

Hi, thanks for the detailed feedback – many new users face the same confusion, so you're not alone!

Salome

Salome is a GUI platform with pre/post-processing tools like:

GEOM / SHAPER for geometry
SMESH for meshing
PARAVIS for visualization

code_aster

Code_Aster is a finite element solver (no GUI). It runs simulations based on .comm files written in a Python-based syntax.

Salome-Meca

Salome-Meca = Salome + the AsterStudy module, which provides a GUI for writing .comm files and running Code_Aster directly from the interface.

Using Salome (without Salome-Meca) with Code_Aster

Yes, it’s possible!

Use Salome to generate a mesh.
Right-click the mesh → Export MED.
Write a .comm file manually or based on an example.
Create an .export file defining the input/output files.
Run the simulation with:

run_aster my_case.export

k_zurawski

basile-simvia
Sorry for not answering sooner, I was on a sort of "holiday".
Thank you, I'll definitely try to decrease the size of my wsl instance of Salome-Meca. Could you tell me where can I find the minimal docker container of code_aster?

Again, thank you.

basile-simvia

Hello k_zurawski

code_aster docker images are available here

k_zurawski

Apollo
There are few people, including me, on the forum which use only Salome standalone and Code_Aster standalone also. If you have any troubles, address me as well, I'll try to help you out.

Apollo

k_zurawski
Hi Krzysztof,

I have been evaluating the various Salome-meca distribution for Windows, I have tried installing Salome-meca using VirtualBox on Windows with Ubuntu VM but I couldn't make it run in HW mode as I can't share my GPU (no passthrough). I have tried running a fresh install on Ubuntu (non VM) without success due to dependency issues (documentation on Code-Aster is outdated).
So far, I have been able to successfully run thermal analysis with Salome-meca Windows version 2024.1.
I have Salome-meca 9.12 installed under WSL2 and this one is not as stable as the Windows version.
Salome-meca under WSL2 crashes when opening the result file for Post-processing. However, as per previous post, I am able to load the result .rmed file from a clean instance of Salome-meca.
When I try to rotate the view in ParaVis, the rendering is somewhat choppy and I can see my CPU is doing most off the leg work using about 10-11 threads. However I do not see drastic use on the GPU side.
This seems to indicate ParaVis doesn't make use of GPU acceleration.
Maybe this explains it:

===============================================================================
    __         _
   / _\  __ _ | |  ___   _ __ ___    ___    /\/\    ___   ___  __ _
   \ \  / _` || | / _ \ | '_ ` _ \  / _ \  /    \  / _ \ / __|/ _` |
   _\ \| (_| || || (_) || | | | | ||  __/ / /\/\ \|  __/| (__| (_| |
   \__/ \__,_||_| \___/ |_| |_| |_| \___| \/    \/ \___| \___|\__,_|
                               EDF R&D / ERMES           V2024.1.0
===============================================================================
Vendor: Mesa/X.org (0xffffffff)
[ INFO    ] Graphics are properly configured...
[         ]     Display:0
[         ]      Vendor: Mesa/X.org (0xffffffff)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ParseXmlFiles Warning, two resources with the same name were found, taking the first declaration : localhost

Though, I am running on a RTX2080.

During certain tasks, related to Mesh creation/assignment, my system starts experiencing slowdown and lack of responsiveness.
I am in the process of building a more capable workstation. It is going to be a few weeks before I get all the parts in.

I have read that Salome-meca on WSL2 doesn't have support for Multi Core/Threads (MPI) for solving with Code-Aster.
Is there a way to enable/implement this option?

k_zurawski

basile-simvia
Thank you.
Why Docker, if I may ask?

k_zurawski

I just spent like an hour trying to run docker desktop with wsl2 with your stable image. I have not succeeded. I'm tired of jumping between versions, systems, images, docers, singularities.
I give up.

basile-simvia

k_zurawski

If you want to avoid Docker Desktop, just install Docker inside WSL as if it was a normal Linux. Use the official Docker repo to get the latest version:

sudo apt remove docker docker-engine docker.io containerd runc

# Setup repo
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
echo \
  "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] \
  https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
  $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | \
  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker-ce 

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Once that’s done, just follow the instructions on the DockerHub page of simvia/code_aster.

k_zurawski

basile-simvia I managed to retrieve 200 of 250GB. Thank you.

k_zurawski

Apollo, what may I only advise is using Salome standalone for Windows, v9.14 currently, preparing input decks in Notepad++ or similar and running studies by hand in terminal using the above distribution under WSL. This was mentioned above by Basile-Simvia.
I've been working this way for a while now. There are still some issues with vtkMEDreader that Salome team will hopefully address in nearest future (OR NOT). That's all there is, and it is what it is...

My first attempt to Code_Aster was in 2010. I went through the same route as you have. VMs, WSL, dual boot, standalone PC with different Linux distros. The best and most stable release was Salome-Meca 2020. This was the last one before they introduced containerized version. I ran it on Ubuntu 18.04LTS.

Sad thing is, we have the best solver available for free, but unstable, buggy and not easy to use software for pre/post. I was willing to pay for some commercial pre/post, but there's nothing there capable to interact with Code_Aster. Salome team is either not interested in solving the issues we experience with the pre/post or are tight on the budget.

I have read that Salome-meca on WSL2 doesn't have support for Multi Core/Threads (MPI) for solving with Code-Aster.
Is there a way to enable/implement this option?

I don't know, I just use the software.

k_zurawski

k_zurawski maybe try running only Code_Aster in VM or on a separate machine. pre/post you may do under Windows.

k_zurawski

basile-simvia Thank you. I'll check it. Since you are developing the software, please always keep in mind, that we want to focus on simulation only and the less hassle is with the software, the better for us.

...and I don't mind if someone treats me as an idiot when it comes to programming 😉 Just not my cup of tea.

Baco666

hello,I have done the installation of the original post. Runnig salame-meca on a GPU Nvidia RTX geforce 4070 Ti super.
My litle knowlege brought me to these two comands after intalling the drivers and cuda on the wsl.
The image bellow indicates that the renders are llvmpipe and mesa/x and not nvidia, what does this mean?
And abou the aceleration why is it set to no? Is salome-meca running only on CPU or am i just dumb?

vfachinotti

Thank you for this great work. I cannot run with MPI. It is not available, right?. Is there a way of making MPI run for Windows?

Ava22

Dear all,

Does this version include Mfront? I ran the salome shell and typed mfront but got the message that command not found.

Silvio86

Hi! new user here. just trying to figure out everything coming from Ansys and Abaqus. I have istalled on WSL, but I have a problem. simulations on my pc take a lot of time, even the classic simulations of 3d bars or plated with tension and 200 elements. I have found out that only one core of my cpu is running. on the Aster Study module I have the MPI command bracket non selectable. what should I do?
Thank you for helping me!

Ava22

Overwan
Hi,
Did you find the solution?
I have the same issue

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