On the EKOS align Tab there is no ASTAP option at the botton - only StellarSolver and Remote.

Yes, this is normal. As long as you have solving method set to "Local ASTAP" in the options, it will use ASTAP.

When I try to point the index files location to /opt/astap it will not load indexes and folder details say 'Dowloads disabled, directory permission issue.

Don't do this. That's only for astrometry.net, and internal solver. ASTAP has its own set of index files, which you must download and install from the same site you installed ASTAP. You will download and install a .deb file, and it will put the index files into the /opt/astap folder.

In fact, if you plan on only using ASTAP, you can delete any index files you see on the Indexes option tab in Ekos, as they aren't used by ASTAP.

Personally, I keep them installed, as I tend to go back and forth between ASTAP and local astrometry.net.

Read More...