CAVE is the **C**ommon **A**WIPS **V**isualization **E**nvironment that is used for rendering and analyzing data for AWIPS. Unidata supports CAVE to work on three platforms: [Centos (Redhat) Linux](#linux), [Windows](#windows), and [macOS](#macos). The installer may require administrator priviledges to install and may require other system changes (environment variables, etc) as well.
1. Download the following installer: [**awips_install.sh** <i class="fa fa-download"></i>](https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/awips2/awips_install.sh)
For Windows, Unidata offers two installation options: a [**Linux Virtual Machine**](#method-1-linux-virtual-machine), or a [**Direct Windows Installation**](#method-2-direct-windows-install).
Currently, the [virtual machine (VM)](#method-1-linux-virtual-machine) is the recommended form of install for those who do not have administrative priviledges on the machine, or beginners who want a simpler installation process.
> Note: At the moment, the VM option may not render all products in CAVE (ex. RGB composites of satellite imagery)
The [direct installation method](#method-2-direct-windows-install) is recommended for those who have administrative priviledges and a little bit of experience installing more software.
### Method 1: Linux Virtual Machine
This method is recommended for beginners, or those with less computer knowledge as it is a very simple installation, however at this time, some CAVE functionality may be missing (ex: rendering RGB satellite images).
3. Open VMWare Player and go to **Player** > **File...** > **Open** and locate the folder that was created from the downloaded zipped file. Select the file called **"CentOS 7 - Unidata CAVE 18-1-1.vmx"**.
4. Run this new VM option. If it asks if it's been moved or copied, select **"I Copied It"**.
This method is recommended for personal use and requires Administrative priviledges. It should enable full CAVE capability, but it is a bit lengthy and might take about 20 minutes or so to complete.
> Note: It is important to use the exact versions of software that we link to or specify in our instructions. Deviations may cause installation problems or failures.
1. Download and install 64-bit [Miniconda Python3.7 version 4.8.2 for Windows](https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-py37_4.8.2-Windows-x86_64.exe)
- **Allow** Miniconda3 to set **PATH** and other environment variables
2. Download and install the 64-bit [Java JDK 1.8_181](https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/downloads/awips2/jdk-8u181-windows-x64.exe) (this is necessary so Jep can install properly).
- Select **Development Tools** as the installation options
- Access the Environment Variables window by typing "env" in the start bar, hitting enter, and clicking on the "Environment Variables..." button at the bottom of the "System Properties" window
- User Variables: **PYTHONPATH** and **PYTHONHOME**
4. [Download and install 64-bit Microsoft Visual Studio C++ Build Tools](https://my.visualstudio.com/Downloads?q=build%20tools%20c++%203&wt.mc_id=o~msft~vscom~older-downloads)
- In addition to the application directory, the MSI installer will attempt to copy the [*gridslice*](https://github.com/Unidata/gridslice) shared library to `$PYTHONHOME/Dlls/`. If the `$PYTHONHOME` environmental variable is not defined *gridslice* will not be installed. You can check to see if it was installed in the Dlls directory after you have completed steps 1-3.
> Note: CAVE will still run without gridslice, but certain bundles which use derived parameters, such as [**isentropic analysis**](../images/screenCapture-2016.04.04.13.41.26-20160404_000000.png), will not load.
1. Download and install: [**awips-cave.dmg** <i class="fa fa-download"></i>](https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/downloads/awips2/awips-cave.dmg)
- Either use the default location, which is in the system-wide "Applications" directory, by clicking and dragging the CAVE icon into the Applications folder, in the window that pops up when installing:
- Or open a new Finder window to your \[user home\]/Applications/ directory (if it doesn't exist, simply create a new folder with the name "Applications"), and drag the CAVE icon into that folder:
- First, unlock the panel by clicking the lock image in the bottom left corner and entering an Administrator's password. Then, click the "Open Anyway" button to allow the awips-python.pkg to run:
> Note: The awips-python.pkg is not necessarily required, and CAVE will still run without it, but any derived data such as barbs, arrows, and various grid products will not render without having **jep** installed (it is assumed to be in /Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/jep/)
Unidata and XSEDE Jetstream have partnered to offer a EDEX data server in the cloud, open to the Unidata university community. Select the server in the Connectivity Preferences dialog, or enter **edex-cloud.unidata.ucar.edu** (without *http://* before, or *:9581/services* after).
After connecting to an EDEX server, you will have a local directory named **caveData** which contains files synced from EDEX as well as a client-side cache for data and map resources.
You can reset CAVE by removing the **caveData** directory and reconnecting to an EDEX server. Your local files have been removed, but if you are re-connecting to an EDEX server you have used before, the remote files will sync again to your local **~/caveData** (bundles, colormaps, etc.).
