COMSOL Multiphysics

COMSOL Multiphysics® (https://www.comsol.com/comsol-multiphysics) is a general-purpose software platform, based on advanced numerical methods, for modeling and simulating physics-based problems. With COMSOL Multiphysics, you will be able to account for coupled or multiphysics phenomena. With more than 30 add-on products to choose from, you can further expand the simulation platform with dedicated physics interfaces and tools for electrical, mechanical, fluid flow, and chemical applications. Additional interfacing products connect your COMSOL Multiphysics simulations with technical computing, CAD, and ECAD software.

Booking calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUJpSzFDTlIyZ0hhfGRlZmF1bHR8MmIyNjMzZGJjOTdmNTk5ZjQ0MGQxNTdkYjhjODYxZGE 

The software provides the following additional toolkits (updated for March 2021):

1. COMSOL Multiphysics

2. AC/DC Module

3. CAD Import Module

4. CFD Module

5. Heat Transfer Module

6. Semiconductor Module

7. Wave Optics Module

Use of COMSOL Software & Licensing Restrictions

The COMSOL installation on the managed Linux servers available as the "phys/COMSOL" module should only be used to support the teaching and research activities at the University, and not for governmental, commercial or contractual work purposes. If you require clarification in regards to your (intended) usage of the software please do send an email to itsupport@york.ac.uk with "FAO COMSOL" somewhere in the subject field, along with any details of your intended work with the COMSOL software module.

IMPORTANT UPDATE 12th MARCH 2021

IT Support have purchased an FNL license for use on the research1.york.ac.uk server to replace the previous CPU license. Usage of the COMSOL software on the server is not expected to change. The following modules have not been renewed, and are currently unusable on research1:

  1. LLMATLAB Module
  2. RF Module
  3. STRUCTURALMECHANICS Module

Accessing COMSOL

COMSOL is only licensed to run on research1.york.ac.uk. You will require an X-session to use COMSOL, with the most reliable results using an X2Go client on your device to connect to the X2Go server on research1. Details on how to access research1 and setup a session from a Linux, MAC or Windows desktop can be found here: https://wiki.york.ac.uk/x/2ogKDQ.

research0 vs research1

The above link provides detailed instructions and screenshots for accessing research0. These instructions apply for accessing research1 - just replace instances of "research0" with "research1" in e.g. the X2Go Session Preferences window.


Additionally, due to a calendar booking system governing the license's usage (see below in the "User Access" section), you will need to contact IT Support (itsupport@york.ac.uk) to be granted access to use COMSOL. Once granted, you will need to book in advance your planned usage. 

Previous Versions of COMSOL

Version 5.3

The unused "semiconductor" module, has been replaced with the "mems" module in COMSOL version 5.5. Our license for version 5.3 is now invalid and we can not legally run COMSOL 5.3.

Version 5.5

COMSOL v5.5 has now been retired on research1 in favour of v5.6.

Version 6.1

COMSOL v6.1 has now been installed on research1, alongside v5.6

Using COMSOL

Access to COMSOL is via the module system. This can be accessed via  the module load command via the terminal application on research1:

COMSOL 6.1 example
$ module load phys/COMSOL/6.1
$ comsol

It is strongly recommended to login to research1 via an X2Go session - see the above "Accessing COMSOL" section for instructions.

Once you've loaded the COMSOL module, you can launch the COMSOL graphical interface by entering the "comsol" command in the same terminal.

Ignore the driver errors - it is because you are not running with a directly attached display. And as if by magic, the COMSOL GUI will appear.

User Access

COMSOL is licensed for one user per session on research1. If a user is using COMSOL, no other user will have access to the software, and other users starting COMSOL you will get an error from the license manager.

There is a soft booking system in place with an associated Google Calendar appointment system: 

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUJpSzFDTlIyZ0hhfGRlZmF1bHR8MmIyNjMzZGJjOTdmNTk5ZjQ0MGQxNTdkYjhjODYxZGE 

Note that you will need to have requested access to the COMSOL installation directory by contacting IT Support before you can access the COMSOL program on research1.

Please make appointments by clicking on the various 3-hour slots available, and clicking the "save" button in the pop-up message:

You will be unable to book a slot taken by another user, or see which users have booked these slots.  

While exceeding your booked time will not automatically end your active COMSOL session on research1, be aware that at any time outside of your booked hours your active COMSOL session can be terminated. Please keep in mind the requirements of other users when exceeding your booked time. 


Administration Information

This information is intended for members of IT Support who wish to grant a user access to COMSOL on research1.

Users will need to be members of the "comsol-cal" managed unix group, which has group ownership of the COMSOL install. The NPA managing this group is "univ558" - use groupman to manage membership: https://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/facilities/account/groupman. This NPA also has ownership of the booking calendar. Installing version 6.1 included the setup process downloading over 8G of data files with no output.