Install LabVIEW on Linux Operating Systems

Updated Mar 8, 2024

Environment

Software

  • LabVIEW

Operating System

  • Linux

This tutorial instructs users on how to install LabVIEW on a Linux operating system using the downloaded installation media. 
 

Items to review before beginning an installation:

  • Confirm that the 64-bit version of LabVIEW you wish to use is compatible with your Linux distribution, by referring to the NI Hardware and Software Operating System Compatibility - NI page.
  • Review the Release Notes and Readme for each version of LabVIEW for Linux for version specific information. The Release notes can be accessed from the LabVIEW Download page.
  • LabVIEW 2018, and later, only support 64-bit Linux distributions. 32-bit Linux distributions are not supported by NI.

  1. Close other applications and NI software.

LabVIEW 2022Q3 and Earlier (Download .iso file)

  1. Install libncurses5 and libopenal1 from the repositories of your Linux distribution.
  2. Download and mount the iso file.
    • The file name format will vary, depending on the version you download. Some examples include lvXXXXpro-linux.iso or lvXXXXXX_pro-linux-mac.iso where XXXX stands for the version of LabVIEW (e.g.,lv2022Q3_f1Patch_pro-linux-mac.iso).
  3. If the ISO contains both Linux and Mac. installers, navigate to the ISO for the Linux installer (e.g. /media/<user>/2022Q3LV-LMPro/LabVIEW/Linux) and mount the ISO. 
  4. Run the install script INSTALL as root (e.g.,sudo ./INSTALL)
  5. (Optional) To install offline LabVIEW help, run the following commands from the same location as the INSTALL script:
  6. Ubuntu (Debian Installers)
    • sudo apt install ./deb/pool/ni-labview-2022/n/ni-offline-help-viewer/*.deb
    • sudo apt install ./deb/pool/ni-labview-2022/n/ni-help-preferences/*.deb
    • sudo apt install ./deb/pool/ni-labview-2022/n/ni-labview-offline-manual/*.deb
  7. Red Hat (RPM Installers)
    • sudo dnf install ./rpm/ni-offline-help-viewer*.rpm
    • sudo dnf install ./rpm/ni-help-preferences*.rpm
    • sudo dnf install ./rpm/ni-labview-offline-manual*.rpm

LabVIEW 2023Q1 and Later (Download feeds package)

With the release of version 2023Q1, LabVIEW is installed using package feeds, which is the usual method of installing software on Linux distributions.
  1. Download the  .zip file for the LabVIEW version and edition (Community, Full, Pro.) you wish to install.
  2. Open the .zip file and extract the package file (.rpm or .deb) for your Linux distribution and version. 
  3. Install the package (e.g., For Ubuntu 20.04 use: sudo apt install ./ni-labview-2023-pro_23.1.0.49229-0+f77-ubuntu2004_all.deb)
  4. When the package has installed, refresh the feeds for your package manager.
    • For example, with Ubuntu use: sudo apt update
  5. The package manager now includes feeds for the repositories that contain the edition of LabVIEW you wish to install.
  6. Install LabVIEW with the Linux distribution package manager (apt, zypper, or yum)
  7. The package name is in the format: ni-labview-<version>-<edition>
    • The name of the .rpm/.deb file you extracted has the same name formatting, with extra numbers and supported OS. 
    • LabVIEW 2023 Professional Edition is called with ni-labview-2023-pro
    • Ubuntu use: sudo apt install ni-labview-2023-pro
    • You can use the search tools in package manager to find the correct package (e.g. apt search labview-2024)
  8. Reboot the PC
  9. Note: The LabVIEW Run Time Engine (RTE) package name is labview-2023-rte.
  10. (Optional) Offline help can be installed with the ni-labview-offline-manual package.
    • e.g., sudo apt install ni-labview-offline-manual
    • Please note: The offline help application is known to be unstable on Ubuntu 22.04.

You are now able to start LabVIEW from the menu of your operating system.

Next Steps

If you are looking to install a patch for your LabVIEW version:
  1. Find your version's patch in the Version drop-down menu on the LabVIEW Downloads page
  2. Download patch
  3. Follow instructions given in the readme, which is part of the packed file of the patch.