1. tar -xzvf verdi_1.4.1.tar.gz into the appropriate place.

2. Java is provided in verdi_1.4.1.tar.gz file for 32 bit linux and or 64 bit linux. 
If you would like to install your own version of java follow step 3.  Otherwise skip to step 6.

3. download Java for your platform if it isn't already installed
   for linux:  http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

4. Download Java3D for your platform if it isn't already installed
For all platforms:  http://java.sun.com/javase/technologies/desktop/java3d/
Go to download section, click on Download Java 3D 1.5.1 Software, select your platform, agree to license agreement and continue.
mv java3d-1_5_1-linux-i586.bin to the jre1.6.0 directory
chmod a+x  java3d-1_5_1-linux-i586.bin
./java3d-1_5_1-linux-i586.bin - this will place the lib/ext and lib/i386 files where they are needed.

5. Download JAI 1.1.2 for your platform if it isn't already installed
https://jai.dev.java.net/binary-builds.html#Release_builds
Installation instructions:  http://download.java.net/media/jai/builds/release/1_1.2/INSTALL.html
download the .tar.gz package and untar. This will create a directory "jai-1_1.2".
Copy the following files:
cp jai-1_1.2/lib/libmlib_jai.so /path-to-/verdi_1.3/jre1.6.0/lib/i386
cp jai-1_1.2/lib/*.jar /path-to-/verdi_1.3/jre1.6.0/lib/ext

For 64-bit Linux:

cp jai-1_1.2/lib/libmlib_jai.so /path-to-/jre1.6.0/lib/i386
cp jai-1_1.2/lib/*.jar /path-to-/jre1.6.0/lib/ext 

6. Edit verdi_1.4.1/verdi.sh
change path for VERDI_HOME variable to reflect where verdi has been installed,
change path for JAVA variable to reflect where the java executable has been installed

7. VERDI can be run using the verdi.sh executable script.