Installing R on CentOS 7: A Step-by-Step Guide to Overcoming Common Installation Obstacles

Installing R on CentOS 7: A Step-by-Step Guide

Installing R on a Linux system, particularly CentOS 7, can be a bit challenging due to dependencies and package management issues. In this article, we will delve into the world of R and explore how to overcome common installation obstacles.

Introduction to R

R is a popular open-source programming language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. It has gained immense popularity among data scientists, statisticians, and researchers due to its ease of use, flexibility, and extensive libraries. CentOS 7, on the other hand, is a Linux distribution based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. While it provides a solid foundation for various applications, it can be challenging to install R due to missing dependencies.

The Installation Process

The installation process of R on CentOS 7 involves several steps:

Installing EPEL Repository: The EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository is required to install R and its dependencies. To add the EPEL repository, run the following command:
```
sudo yum install epel-release
```
This will update your system’s package list and enable you to install packages from the EPEL repository.
Installing R: After installing the EPEL repository, you can proceed with installing R using the following command:
```
sudo yum install R
```
However, this command may fail due to missing dependencies.

The Error Message

When running sudo yum install R, you will encounter an error message similar to the one below:

...
Error: Package: R-core-3.2.3-1.el6.x86_64 (epel)
    Requires: libicuuc.so.42()(64bit)
Error: Package: R-core-3.2.3-1.el6.x86_64 (epel)
        Requires: libicui18n.so.42()(64bit)

You could try using --skip-broken to work around the problem
You could try running: rpm -Va --nofiles --nodigest

This error message indicates that R is missing required dependencies, specifically libicuuc.so.42 and libicui18n.so.42.

Solving the Error

To solve this issue, you need to download and install the required dependencies manually.

Downloading the Required Dependencies: The first step is to download the required dependencies from a repository or website that provides them. In this case, we will use the ftp://fr2.rpmfind.net/linux/Mandriva/official/2010.0/x86_64/media/main/release/lib64icu42-4.2.1-1mdv2010.0.x86_64.rpm file.
You can download the RPM file using a web browser or by running the following command:
```
wget http://ftp.fr2.rpmfind.net/linux/Mandriva/official/2010.0/x86_64/media/main/release/lib64icu42-4.2.1-1mdv2010.0.x86_64.rpm
```
Installing the Required Dependencies: After downloading the RPM file, you need to install it using the following command:
```
sudo rpm -ivh lib64icu42-4.2.1-1mdv2010.0.x86_64.rpm
```
This will extract and install the required dependencies.

Conclusion

Installing R on CentOS 7 can be challenging due to missing dependencies. By following this guide, you should now have a better understanding of how to overcome these obstacles and successfully install R on your system. Remember to always update your package list using sudo yum install epel-release before installing R. Additionally, ensure that you download the required dependencies from a reliable source.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter any issues during the installation process, refer to the following troubleshooting tips:

Check Your Package List: Before running sudo yum install R, verify that your package list is up-to-date using sudo yum check.
Use –skip-broken Option: If you encounter a dependency issue, try using the --skip-broken option when installing R. For example:
```
sudo yum install --skip-broken R
```
Check Your Dependencies: Verify that your system meets the dependencies required by R. You can use sudo rpm -ql to list the installed packages and their dependencies.

References

Last modified on 2023-08-29