WIYN Remote Fiber Spectrograph

Remote control of the Remote Fiber Spectrograph is achieved with the VNC desktop-sharing software.

Note to UW-Madison users: to use ximtool, the computer "grays" must have its display in 8-bit mode. To get this, type ctrl-alt-F7 at the login screen before you log in.

Using the Remote Fiber Spectrograph

The Bench Spectrograph can be used remotely for both HYDRA and the two IFUs (SparsePak and DensePak). When using an IFU, a VNC desktop-sharing server must be started on vanilla to control the Bench and for data aquisition; use of HYDRA requires an additional VNC server on oatmeal for the configuration setup.

First verify with the WIYN operator that they have started the server software. The operator (or the observer) should type this:

vanilla-> vncserver &
oatmeal-> vncserver &

Either make sure the vncviewer program is in your PATH, or "cd" to the proper directory. Type

local-> vncviewer -shared -bgr233 -depth 8 vanilla.kpno.noao.edu:1
local-> vncviewer -shared -bgr233 -depth 8 oatmeal.kpno.noao.edu:1

Then type in the appropriate password.

The remote desktops will now appear. It takes a minute or so to initially display, but is much snappier after that.

To use ximtool and IRAF, do this:

• Make sure ximtool in the WIYN control room is shut down
• Choose one of the following:

local-> ssh -l hydra vanilla.kpno.noao.edu
vanilla-> ximtool &
vanilla-> xgterm &

• OR

local-> ssh -X -l hydra vanilla.kpno.noao.edu ximtool
local-> ssh -X -l hydra vanilla.kpno.noao.edu xgterm

• and then, from within the xgterm window,

xgterm-> cl

Report any problems to Dave Mills.

Making FITS image files

If you want your data in FITS format, see this.

Sending Data to Madison

If you want to send your data to Madison, see this.