Boston University Linux

If you see an error like this: 

/afs/bu.edu/common/IT/matlab-7.1/bin/glnx86/MATLAB:
error while loading shared libraries: libXp.so.6:
cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

when running Matlab or any other proprietary, binary-only program, check to see if yum (the command-line package management tool used in BU Linux) can find the missing library for you. Type:

sudo yum install libXp.so.6

and yum will search for the library in the BU Linux repository, and if a package can be found that provides it, you will be prompted to install it.

Of course, this can apply to libraries or files other than libXp.so.6 — simply use the appropriate filename in a command similar to the one above.