---
title: FAQ
#tags:
keywords: faq, frequently asked questions, support
last_updated: 27 October 2022
#summary: ""
sidebar: merlin6_sidebar
permalink: /merlin6/faq.html
---

{%include toc.html %}

## How do I register for merlin?

See [Requesting Accounts](/merlin6/request-account.html).

## Can I install software myself?

Most software can be installed in user directories without any special permissions. We recommend using `/data/user/$USER/bin` for software since home directories are fairly small. For software that will be used by multiple groups/users you can also [request the admins](/merlin6/contact.html) install it as a [module](/merlin6/using-modules.html).

How to install depends a bit on the software itself. There are three common installation procedures:

1. *binary distributions*. These are easy; just put them in a directory (eg `/data/user/$USER/bin`) and add that to your PATH.
2. *source compilation* using make/cmake/autoconfig/etc. Usually the compilation scripts accept a `--prefix=/data/user/$USER` directory for where to install it. Then they place files under `<prefix>/bin`, `<prefix>/lib`, etc. The exact syntax should be documented in the installation instructions.
3. *conda environment*. This is now becoming standard for python-based software, including lots of the AI tools. First follow the [initial setup instructions](/merlin6/python.html#anaconda) to configure conda to use /data/user instead of your home directory. Then you can create environments like:

```
module load anaconda/2019.07
# if they provide environment.yml
conda env create -f environment.yml

# or to create manually
conda create --name myenv python==3.9 ...

conda activate myenv
```