Operating Haystack Remotely

These instructions are based on the assumptions that you have some familiarity with radio astronomy, have already read Haystack's Umbrella manual ( PDF or PostScript), and have some little familiarity with shells in Unix or Linux operating systems.

• Requirements: To operate Haystack remotely for radio astronomy, you'll need:
  • A computer with internet connectivity. A modem connection is OK, but faster is better.
  • X-Windows server software. If your computer has Unix or Linux, then it presumably already has an X server. For MS Windows (3.1, 95, or 98) or Macintosh, a list of possible X servers is here. Note that at least one of these is free, and most have free demo versions. This list is probably incomplete and inaccurate, and Haystack does not recommend or endorse any of these. If you are operating over a modem link, you'll find that those X servers that feature low-bandwidth X (LBX) give faster performance, but LBX is somewhat difficult to get going. Here is an example LBX startup script.
  • Permission to use Haystack for radio astronomy at a scheduled time and a login on Haystack's computer gauss or fourier.
• With these requirements in place:
  • If you are starting from a Unix or Linux machine, you'll need to set permission for gauss and fourier to write to your X server. Try:
    xhost gauss.haystack.mit.edu
    and
    xhost fourier.haystack.mit.edu
    (Windows and Macintosh users should not need to set permissions.) Then log into gauss or fourier (using, for example, telnet) to get a Linux shell, and set DISPLAY to point back to your X server. Setting DISPLAY is harder than it should be. If you're using an ISP that dynamically assigns names and IP numbers, then you might not know the name or number of your own machine. Try Xterm (that's upper-case X) to your shell prompt. This should put an xterm onto your X display with DISPLAY correctly set therein, and you can then use this xterm for the following. If this doesn't work, there are various tricks to find your computer's name or IP number: A w or who to your shell should show your computer's name but perhaps truncated. Or on a Windows-95 machine, double click on Winipcfg to see the IP number assigned to you. Then use either
    setenv DISPLAY your.computer's.name:0
    or
    setenv DISPLAY your.computer's.IPnumber:0
    (This assumes csh or tcsh.) Don't forget the :0 at the end.
  • Start Umbrella (Umbrla with Upoint, Dop, and WatchThis) by typing US. (A note on US is here, and some frequently asked questions about WatchThis and Umbrella, with answers, are here). US should create three new windows on your X display:
    • Xterm Umbrla. Umbrella commands go here.
    • Xterm Log. Logging information from Upoint, Dop, and some logging also from Umbrla appear here.
    • WatchThis traffic lights.
    This takes up to a minute over a modem link; be patient. Example of what you should then see.
  • Type Umbrella commands into Xterm Umbrla.
  • If you plan to do DSSs to check pointing (you should), then you might want to start an Xtterm D (from your shell window), which gives a quick plot of DSSs as they happen. Example.
  • If you plan to do spectroscopy, then you might want to start an Xtterm 1, 2, or 4 (For SetupRow A, C, or E), which gives a quick plot of spectra as they happen. Example of Xtterm 2.
  • When you're finished observing, Park (wait for on source) and Exit to Xterm Umbrla. Wait for the three windows to shut down; this can take up to 30 seconds.
  • A ^C (Control-C) will kill your Xtterm windows; exit out of your shell.

Thank you for using Haystack.

Revised: 1998 November 9, JAB