The current version of SPICE is v2.5.1. There are no significant changes from v2.5.0. But the installers for Linux and Solaris are now "generic" versions, i.e. they will ask you for your local Java. As a consequence, you should download 2.5.1 for all platforms from here -- the auto-updater will not migrate from an earlier version. As before, Mac users with Mac OSX 10.7 (Lion) or greater should use that version, and refer to the security instructions below under "Starting the GUI".

Download and Installation Instructions

Note: Install scripts require a cshell (csh, tcsh, or equivalent).

2. Make the installation file executable:

 > chmod +x ./spice2_5_1-generic-linux.sh

3. Run the installation file:

 > ./spice2_5_1-generic-linux.sh

The install script will ask you for your Java JRE directory. This is one level above the "bin" directory, so "/usr" if your Java is in /usr/bin.

2. Double click on the file

3. Drag the spice folder to wherever you want SPICE to be kept

2. Double click on the file

3. Drag the spice folder to wherever you want SPICE to be kept

2. Make the installation file executable:

 > chmod +x ./spice2_5_1-generic-solaris.sh

3. Run the installation file:

 > ./spice2_5_1-generic-solaris.sh

The install script will ask you for your Java JRE directory. This is one level above the "bin" directory, so "/usr" if your Java is in /usr/bin.

Starting the GUI

After the installation is complete, SPICE can be launched by running the executable file. In Linux or Solaris, the executable file is run by typing:

/your/installation/directory/spice &

On a Mac, you can either double click on the spice.app icon, or type:

/your/installation/directory/spice.app/Contents/MacOS/JavaApplicationStub

For Mac versions starting with Lion, security blocks may be on ("Gatekeeper"). Double-clicking may lead to a message like:

"spice" is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the
Trash.

Click "Cancel". You will need to temporarily disable Gatekeeper, launch SPICE, then re-enable Gatekeeper again (if you wish). You only need to do this once.

To temporarily disable Gatekeeper, open "System Preferences". Under "Personal", click "Security & Privacy". If necessary, click the lock and enter your password. Under "Allow applications downloaded from", select "Anywhere". You may leave this window open.

Go back and double-click on spice.app. You may receive the following message:

"spice" is an application downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure
you want to open it?

Click "Open".

Now you can go back to the "Security & Privacy" window and set "Allow applications downloaded from..." to whatever value you are comfortable with. After this, you should be able to run SPICE with just a double click without altering Gatekeeper.

Updating the GUI

SPICE is able to automatically update itself to the current version (EXCEPT that 2.5.0 will not migrate to 2.5.1, see above). To use the auto-update feature,

1. Start the SPICE GUI as described in the section above.

2. Make sure you are connected to the internet. The net status is displayed at the bottom of the GUI. If you do not see Net Up, you may need to address the problem.

3. SPICE should automatically check for updates every time it is started. If for some reason this is not happening, go to the Options menu on the task bar and make sure that Use Automatic SPICE Version Update is on. Toggle it off and back on again to get SPICE to check again for an update.

4. If you have a very old version of SPICE, you may have to go through more than one update to get to the current version. The update check may take several minutes, and the actual update several times longer depending on network speed. You can check the version you have updated to by going to the Help menu on the task bar and clicking on About.