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System Requirements - 5.2a Running COMSOL® Applications

COMSOL applications can be run by connecting to COMSOL Server™ from a web browser, or from the COMSOL Client for Windows®. The COMSOL Client for Windows® allows a user to run applications that require a LiveLink™ product for CAD. Running applications in a web browser does not require any installation and no web browser plug-ins are needed. Running an application in a web browser supports interactive graphics in 3D using WebGL™ technology.

Web Browsers

Recent versions of the most popular web browsers support the WebGL™ standard for 3D graphics and WebSockets. The table below lists the earliest version of each browser that supports WebGL™ and WebSockets but we recommend always using the latest version of the browser for the best user experience.

Operating System Browser Recommended Version
Windows/Linux/Mac Chrome 31 or later
Windows Internet Explorer 11 or later
Windows Microsoft Edge 21 or later
Windows/Linux/Mac Firefox 35 or later
Mac Safari 7.1 or later
iOS Safari 8.1 or later
Android Android Browser 37 or later
Android Chrome 40 or later

COMSOL Client for Windows®

Running COMSOL applications with the COMSOL Client for the Windows® operating system utilizes Microsoft® Windows® components. This gives simulation apps a look-and-feel similar to apps running in the COMSOL Desktop environment. In addition, many of the LiveLink products for CAD software can be used with the COMSOL Client.

Supported Operating System Version
64-Bit Operating Systems
  • Windows® 10
  • Windows® 8.1
  • Windows® 8
  • Windows® 7
  • Windows Server® 2012 R2
  • Windows Server® 2012
  • Windows Server® 2008 R2
  • Windows Server® 2008
  • Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
  • Windows HPC Server 2008
  • Windows Vista®

The COMSOL Client also requires that Internet Explorer has been updated to version 11 or later.

Interfacing Products

CAD Import Module and Design Module

Windows® Windows® 7, Windows® 8, Windows® 8.1, Windows® 10. Vista is supported but functionality may be limited.
Mac OS X® Mac OS X 10.9 or later.
Linux® OS Specific System Requirements only.
File import of the NX™ file format is only available on supported Windows® or Linux® operating systems. File import of the AutoCAD®, Inventor®, and SOLIDWORKS® file formats is only available on supported Windows® operating systems.

For the list of supported file formats for CAD file import and export, see the CAD Specification Chart.

LiveLink™ Products

The bidirectional interface functionality of the product suite detailed in the table below is only available for the Windows® 7, Windows® 8, Windows® 8.1, and Windows® 10 operating systems when run together with the COMSOL Client. For other included functionality, such as file import and geometric operations, see the CAD Import Module and Design Module table above.

LiveLink™ Compatible Software
LiveLink™ for AutoCAD® AutoCAD® 2016 and 2017
LiveLink™ for Inventor® Inventor® 2016 and 2017, and Inventor® Professional 2016 and 2017
LiveLink™ for PTC Creo Parametric™ PTC Creo Parametric™ 2.0 (at least M100) and 3.0
LiveLink™ for PTC Pro/ENGINEER® PTC Pro/ENGINEER® Wildfire® 4.0 and 5.0, and PTC Creo® Elements Pro 5.0
LiveLink™ for Revit® Revit® 2016 and 2017
LiveLink™ for Solid Edge® Solid Edge® ST7 and ST8
LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® SOLIDWORKS® 2015 and 2016

File Import for CATIA® V5

The File Import for CATIA® V5 add-on to the CAD Import Module, Design Module, and LiveLink™ products for CAD is only available for Windows® 7, Windows® 8, Windows® 8.1, and Windows® 10.

LiveLink™ for Excel®

LiveLink™ for Excel® is compatible with Excel® 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016 on Windows®. Excel® 2010 Starter is not supported.

LiveLink™ for MATLAB®

LiveLink™ for MATLAB® is compatible with MATLAB® R2015b and R2016a on all operating systems. For Linux® Operating Systems, the programs xterm and csh are required. To interface with MATLAB functions, the COMSOL application needs to be run in a web browser, while the MATLAB and COMSOL Server programs need to be installed on the same physical computer.

NOTE: This information is provided for your benefit, but should not be used as a substitute for your own investigation of the system requirements that may be appropriate for your use of COMSOL® software or other software, given your particular circumstances. Systems and hardware change regularly, which may impact any determination of what system requirements are appropriate for you.