Installing R and Rstudio
The analysis scripts in this guide are written in R script. We will be using RStudio, a front-end gui for R, to run the analysis scripts.
You have three main options for running this analysis in RStudio:
Use QUTs rVDI virtual desktop machines
Install R and RStudio on your own PC
Use the provided PCs in the QUT computer labs
Option1: Use QUTs rVDI virtual desktop machines
This is the preferred method, as R and RStudio are already installed, as are all the required R packages needed for analysis. Installing all of these can take over 30 minutes on your own PC, so using an rVDI machine saves time.
rVDI provides a virtual Windows desktop that can be run in your web browser.
To access and run an rVDI virtual desktop:
Go to https://rvdi.qut.edu.au/
Click on ‘VMware Horizon HTML Access’
Log on with your QUT username and password
*NOTE: you need to be connected to the QUT network first, either being on campus or connecting remotely via VPN.
Option2: Install R and RStudio on your own PC
Go to the following page https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/ and follow the instructions provided to install first R and then Rstudio.
Download and install R, following the default prompts:
https://cran.r-project.org/bin/windows/base/
Download and install RStudio, following the default prompts:
https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/
Option3: Use the provided PCs in the QUT computer labs
The PCs in the computer labs already have R and RStudio installed. If using this option, you will need to install the required R packages (unlike rVDI). The code for installing these packages is in the analysis section below.
Map your HPC home directory
We did this in the last session, but if you’re on one of the computer lab PCs or an rVDI virtual machine you’ll need to re-map your HPC home directory.
Follow the instructions here: