Python/R extensions via "the cloud"

[Keefer, Robert P.]

Hi folks,

 

Our IT people are now supplying SPSS via “the cloud,” meaning that it no longer resides on my hard drive (supplied via Citrix).  How do I get R and Python extensions to work in this situation?  Can I load them on my own machine, without having SPSS there?  Can IT load them there, making them available to me via “the cloud” as well?  I’ll admit that I haven’t tried it yet, as I was hoping someone has already been there and can offer some guidance before I start randomly trying things.  Thanks for any help.

 

bob k.

 

[J. R. Carroll]

Bob,

My understanding is that SPSS uses JVM (I think since v18?) - either way the "SPSS engine" runs on the "citrix side" and you are now using citrix to essentially "RDP" (not a a real RDP I know).  When you connect to this box (virtualized) the engine is going to look for the Python/R interpreters on the same box.  I don't know/believe there is a way to "point" SPSS to utilize Python/R on another box (Python does have some abilities for "remote interpreters" - I never looked much into it, and for my GUI Python scripting I use a remote interpreter, but I'm not quite sure what it's doing on the back-end, and if that is something you can setup on the Citrix box with SPSS (and point SPSS to a remote interpreter for Python)). 

My recommendation would be to install Python/R on the Citrix box - it's quick, noninvasive, and easy.  Your IT folks shouldn't (emphasis on 'shouldn't') put up to much of a struggle with this as a solution. 


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J. R. Carroll

Researcher for Hurtz Labs

Instructor at California State University, Sacramento

Research Methods, Test Development, and Statistics

www.jrcresearch.net

Cell:  [phone]

Email: [hidden email]

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On Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 12:03 PM, Keefer, Robert P. <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi folks,

 

Our IT people are now supplying SPSS via “the cloud,” meaning that it no longer resides on my hard drive (supplied via Citrix).  How do I get R and Python extensions to work in this situation?  Can I load them on my own machine, without having SPSS there?  Can IT load them there, making them available to me via “the cloud” as well?  I’ll admit that I haven’t tried it yet, as I was hoping someone has already been there and can offer some guidance before I start randomly trying things.  Thanks for any help.

 

bob k.