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.
!!! error "Running CAVE via X11 forwarding or ssh tunneling is **not** supported. Using a [VNC connection is the only remote option](common-problems.md#remotely-connecting-to-cave), and may result in worse performance than running locally."
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.
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**
!!! warning "If PYTHONHOME is not set, the **gridslice** Python module will not be installed or available"
4. [Download and install 64-bit Microsoft Visual Studio C++ Build Tools](https://my.visualstudio.com/Downloads?q=Build%20Tools%20for%20Visual%20Studio%202019%20%28version%2016.9%29&pgroup=)
- The installer will pop up as shown below. Make sure to select the **C++ build tools** (upper left), and then view the **Installation details** on the right
- 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.).
