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Code Block
gunzip grib_api_1.14.0.tar.gz
tar xf grib_api-1.14.0.tar

Configuring

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using

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CMake

Grib_api compilation can be made using the GNU configure tool. This will be familiar to many who have previously installed software.

The configure command is probably the easiest method though note it is deprecated in favour of using cmake (see below).

The configure command is contained in the grib_api directory. A few options are needed to suit the OpenIFS models and gcc & gfortran compilers are assumed in the example below. If you use different compilers, see below.

uses the CMake command for configuration and compilation. CMake is available for modern Linux systems but may have to be installed.

Alternately grib_api supports installation via a 'configure' script, though this option is deprecated.

CMake compilation must be done is a separate build directory to both the source and the install directory.

Code Block
languagebash
titleSteps to configure grib-api with CMake assuming gnu compilers
mkdir bld
mkdir grib-api
cd bld
export CC=gcc
export FC=gfortran
cmake ../grib_api-
Code Block
titlegcc/gfortran compilers
cd grib_api_1.14.0-Source
./configure --prefix=$HOME/ecmwf/grib_api --enable-pthread --enable-python --disable-jpeg

A description of what these options are for:

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Other options

--help option to configure can be used to see what other options are possible, also see the grib_api website for more detailed documentation.

--enable-vector option should be used on vector based computers (e.g. NEC). Grib_api will then use a more efficient packing/unpacking method suitable for vector hardware. n.b. there is a bug in the 1.9.18 release that if the --disable-vector option is used, this has the reverse effect of enabling the vector code. See grib_api issue GRIB-269 for more details.

--disable-numpy option should be used if python is enabled but configure can't find the NumPy package.

Shared and static libraries

grib_api will build both shared and static libraries by default. Shared libraries may need to be built if the python interface is used, depending on your installation.

Some compilers will link to the shared version by default if both are found (e.g. the GNU compiler). Alternately, the option  --disable-shared stops the shared libraries from being generated, only the static libraries are built and will be linked. However, this may prevent other grib api tools working and is not generally recommended.

IBM users may find that the grib-api fortran tests will fail unless --disable-shared is used.

Configuring using CMake

Grib_api uses the CMake command for configuration and compilation. CMake is available for modern Linux systems but may have to be installed.

Alternately grib_api supports installation via a 'configure' script, though this option is deprecated.

CMake compilation must be done is a separate build directory to both the source and the install directory.

Code Block
languagebash
titleSteps to configure grib-api with CMake assuming gnu compilers
mkdir bld
mkdir grib-api
cd bld
export CC=gcc
export FC=gfortran
cmake ../grib_api-1.14.0-Source   \
      -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="../grib-api"   \
      -DENABLE_NETCDF=ON              \
      -DENABLE_JPG=OFF                \
      -DENABLE_PNG=OFF                \
      -DENABLE_PYTHON=ON              \
      -DENABLE_FORTRAN=ON             \
      -DENABLE_GRIB_THREADS=ON        \
      -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF

Explanation of lines. Note that all options are prefixed by '-D':

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export CC=gcc
export FC=gfortran

...

This specifies the location where the 'make install' command will place the grib-api installation.

...

Available options

To get additional help on the available options (similar to the 'configure --help' command) run the command:

Code Block
cmake -LH grib_api-1.14.0-Source

...

   \
      -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="../grib-api"   \
      -DENABLE_NETCDF=ON              \
      -DENABLE_JPG=OFF                \
      -DENABLE_PNG=OFF                \
      -DENABLE_PYTHON=ON              \
      -DENABLE_FORTRAN=ON             \
      -DENABLE_GRIB_THREADS=ON        \
      -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF

Explanation of lines. Note that all options are prefixed by '-D':

export CC=gcc
export FC=gfortran

These lines set the choice of compiler. CMake is often able to determine the available compilers for itself.
However, in cases where multiple compilers are available, or where compiler wrappers are used (as on HPC systems), it's preferable to set these explicitly by use of environment variables.
These lines can often be omitted.
CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="../grib_api"

This specifies the location where the 'make install' command will place the grib-api installation.

ENABLE_NETCDF=ONEnabling netcdf ensures the grib_to_netcdf command can be used.
ENABLE_JPG=OFF
ENABLE_PNG=OFF
As OpenIFS models do not deal with any image based GRIB data these options can be disabled, unless you have other grib data containing images that you need to work with.
ENABLE_PYTHON=ONSome of the utilities that come with OpenIFS models make use of the python interface to grib_api, e.g. the tools to create and manipulate the model data.
For this option to work, ensure that a python installation is available.
ENABLE_FORTRAN=ONThis enables the Fortran interface to grib_api and should always be on.
ENABLE_GRIB_THREADS=ONThis ensures grib_api is compiled to be 'thread-safe'. Although OpenIFS models do not currently use multiple threaded calls to grib-api, future versions may do so this option is recommended.
BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFFgrib_api can be built with both 'shared' and 'static' libraries for linking. Normally static libraries are sufficient. Note that some IBM users may experience problems if shared libraries are built.

Available options

To get additional help on the available options (similar to the 'configure --help' command) run the command:

Code Block
cmake -LH grib_api-1.14.0-Source
Info

This command will cause cmake to run its system discovery if this is the first time the command has been used. On some systems, this may take time to complete.

Configuring compilation using autotools

Grib_api compilation can be made using the GNU configure tool. This will be familiar to many who have previously installed software.

The configure command is probably the easiest method though note it is deprecated in favour of using cmake (see below).

The configure command is contained in the grib_api directory. A few options are needed to suit the OpenIFS models and gcc & gfortran compilers are assumed in the example below. If you use different compilers, see below.

Code Block
titlegcc/gfortran compilers
cd grib_api_1.14.0-Source
./configure --prefix=$HOME/ecmwf/grib_api --enable-pthread --enable-python --disable-jpeg

A description of what these options are for:

--prefix        
This specifies where you want the grib_api files to be installed. In example here, the source code is in $HOME/ecmwf/grib_api_1.14.0-Source and the compiled grib_api libraries will go in directory $HOME/ecmwf/grib_api. You are free to choose any installation directory but it's recommended to keep the installed binaries & libraries in a separate directory to the source code, in case different compiler versions are needed. On a shared high performance computer facility, the install path would most likely be somewhere central. If nothing is specified for --prefix, by default grib_api will install in /usr/local.
--disable-jpegOpenIFS models do not need to support JPEG and PNG for data compression. This removes the need to link against the Jasper library (libjasper.a).
--enable-pthreadThis option ensures that grib_api is thread-safe and is a recommended option.
--enable-pythonThis option is not essential but desireable. It enables the python interface and is required as some utilities make use of the grib-api python interface. If the make fails because of a missing numpy header file you should add the --disable-numpy option. If this option does not work, some of the tools provided with OpenIFS models may not work.

Other options

--help option to configure can be used to see what other options are possible, also see the grib_api website for more detailed documentation.

--enable-vector option should be used on vector based computers (e.g. NEC). Grib_api will then use a more efficient packing/unpacking method suitable for vector hardware. n.b. there is a bug in the 1.9.18 release that if the --disable-vector option is used, this has the reverse effect of enabling the vector code. See grib_api issue GRIB-269 for more details.

--disable-numpy option should be used if python is enabled but configure can't find the NumPy package.

Shared and static libraries

grib_api will build both shared and static libraries by default. Shared libraries may need to be built if the python interface is used, depending on your installation.

Some compilers will link to the shared version by default if both are found (e.g. the GNU compiler). Alternately, the option  --disable-shared stops the shared libraries from being generated, only the static libraries are built and will be linked. However, this may prevent other grib api tools working and is not generally recommended.

IBM users may find that the grib-api fortran tests will fail unless --disable-shared is used

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Choice of compiler and options

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