How to Install CloudSim in Windows (in 3 easy steps)

The contents of this DIY has been tested on Windows 7 Ultimate x64 with CloudSim 3.0.3 and JDK8u11 x64. It should work similarly on other Windows OS and for different version of JDK as long as you use Java version 1.6 or newer. The text shown in RED in the DIY represents the values that will differ depending upon your JDK version and locations.

CloudSim is a framework for modelling and simulating cloud computing infrastructure and services. In this DIY we will see how to install CloudSim in Windows easily and efficiently. A more detailed description, APIs and research papers related to CloudSim can be found here. Let us begin.


Step 1: Setting up the Prerequisites

1. First of all we need to download the CloudSim and latest version of the Java Development Toolkit (JDK). These can be found here:
Note: It is advisable that you must download the appropriate version of the JDK for your system i.e. x86 version for x86 systems and x64 version for x64 systems.

2. CloudSim requires a working JRE, so install the JDK.

3. Now its time to install the CloudSim. Unpack the downloaded 'CloudSim-3.0.3.tar.gz' or 'CloudSim-3.0.3.zip' (let the name of the unpacked folder be 'cloudsim-3.0.3'). As you can see there is no executable file inside the folder so there is no special program to install the CloudSim. Later if you want to remove the CloudSim, then remove the whole 'cloudsim-3.0.3' directory.


Step 2: Setting up the Environment

Now comes the critical part, the most important part of the CloudSim setup is the setting up the paths to different classes and jar files correctly or you won't be able to run your programs efficiently.

1. The first path to be set is the 'Path' variable which will contain the location of executable java files such as 'javac' and 'java' and will be used by the CloudSim while compiling and running a CloudSim or Java program.

2. The second path to be set is the 'CLASSPATH' variable which will contain the location of the class files and will be used by the CloudSim while executing an application. So we have to set three consecutive values first one for location of JDK executables, second one is the location of jar files provided in the CloudSim and is used exclusively by the CloudSim applications and third one is the location where we have stored our programs.

To set the paths go to the properties of 'My Computer' —> 'Advanced system settings' —> 'Advanced' tab —> 'Environment Variables...' —> under the 'System variables' —> 'New...' —> in the popped up box set the 'Variable name' and 'Variable Value' as shown and click 'OK'.

Variable name Variable value
1Path C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_11\bin;
2CLASSPATH C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_11\bin;
C:\Users\Dhyan\Desktop\cloudsim-3.0.3\jars\*;
C:\Users\Dhyan\Desktop\cloudsim-3.0.3\examples;

Note: We have to close all the opened command prompt windows, if any.


Step 3: Testing the Setup (Compiling and Executing a CloudSim Application)

Finally now we can test whether our installation is successful or not. CloudSim includes some test example programs in the 'CloudSim\examples\gridsim\' folder that we can use to test our setup.

1. Compiling a CloudSim program: If you have followed this DIY then compiling a CloudSim program is pretty straightforward; the basic syntax for compilation is just similar to that of Java programs i.e. javac filename.java or javac file_location\filename.java. Let us compile the Example2.java included in 'CloudSim\examples\gridsim\example02\' folder. We will now run the following command in a new command prompt

1 javac C:\Users\Dhyan\Desktop\cloudsim-3.0.3\examples\org\cloudbus\cloudsim\examples\CloudSimExample1.java

2. Running the compiled program: The syntax for running a compiled CloudSim program is similar to that of running a program in Java i.e. java filename. In our case we have to type (see image 1)

1 java org.cloudbus.cloudsim.examples.CloudSimExample1

OR if you want to save the output of your program to a file you can use the following

1 java org.cloudbus.cloudsim.examples.CloudSimExample1 > output.txt

Note: The examples given in the CloudSim uses the concept of packages hence it is advisable to go through the basics of packages in Java for a better understanding of the above stated commands.

Image 1. Testing the Setup.


Some Important Points

  • It is important to set the CLASSPATH correctly, if you make any mistake you might get a class not found error and if you want to supply the classpath externally while compiling or executing using -cp or -classpath; then for some reason it might not work and you would still get the same errors.
  • Remember to change the 2nd and 3rd CLASSPATH values if you later decide to move the jar files of the CLoudSim or location of your own programs to some other location, respectively and accordingly.
  • You can also use CloudSim with the Eclipse IDE.
  • For more information kindly refer the readme.txt and examples.txt provided with the CloudSim.

Goodluck !
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5 comments:

  1. the cloudsim file has got no bin folder..after configuration each time i try to run a program it's showing this editor has no main type..please send me a right link of cloudsim with bin folder inside...thank you..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Sir, i installed cloudsim with eclipse and run the cloudsim examples it shows the error, "Editor does not contain main type", how i resolve this problem. plz sir help me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. i installed cloudsim with eclipse and run the cloudsim examples it shows the error, "Editor does not contain main type", how i resolve this problem.plz suggest the complete procedure to how setup the program in eclipse. plz

    ReplyDelete
  4. how to get simulation graph in cloudsim using netbeans software?
    can anyone tell steps for its simulation

    ReplyDelete