Remote Observing with SpeX using ssh under Mac OSX

1.1 Requirements

Macintosh computer running X11 under Mac OSX (10.3 or later) and a minimum display resolution of 1280x1024.

SpeX consists of 2 cameras (Bigdog / Guidedog). Each system fills up a single monitor/display. On single monitor systems, a virtual desktop can be used to run both systems. However, the preferred method is to use a dual monitor configuration, so the Guidedog and Bigdog windows (XUI&DV) are both visible.

For Macs with display resolutions less than the standard 1280x1024, the Bigdog / Guidedog XUI and DV windows will be truncated at the bottom. The solution for this is to run SpeX via two VNC sessions in which the virtual desktops default to a resolution of 1200x925. VNC viewers such as VNCDimension or Chicken of the VNC will produce scroll bars that allow navigation across these larger desktops.

As a prerequisite, you should create a guest user account for your run.

1.2. Running additional software

Log into stefan to run any software other than the instrument control software. This may include, but is not limited to, tcs1_status, starcat2, or idl / spex_tool.

% ssh stefan.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX
> tcs1_status &

1.3. How to run SpeX remotely under Mac OS 10.3 (Panther)

1. Allow IRTF computers to make Xwindow connection to your Xserver. Use the xhost command, for example "xhost +" allows access to everyone.

2. Starting Bigdog's DV and XUI
   1. Starting DV
      • ssh to Bigdog:
        % ssh -X -2 -A bigdog.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX

      • Give the command to start DV (do not need to set DISPLAY):
        % startdv

   2. Starting the Bigdog XUI
      • ssh to Bigdog:
        % ssh -X -2 -A bigdog.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX

      • Give the command to start the xui (do not need to set DISPLAY):
        % bigdogxui

3. Starting Guidedog's DV and XUI
   1. Starting DV
      • ssh to Guidedog:
        % ssh -X -2 -A guidedog.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX

      • Give the command to start DV (do not need to set DISPLAY):
        % startdv

   2. Starting the Guidedog XUI
      • ssh to Guidedog:
        % ssh -X -2 -A guidedog.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX

      • Give the command to start the xui (do not need to set DISPLAY):
        % guidedogxui

1.4. How to run SpeX remotely under Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger)

1. Allow IRTF computers to make Xwindow connection to your Xserver. Use the xhost command, for example "xhost +" allows access to everyone.

2. Starting Bigdog's DV and XUI
   1. Starting DV
      • ssh to Bigdog:
        % ssh -X -Y bigdog.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX

      • Give the command to start DV (do not need to set DISPLAY):
        % startdv

   2. Starting the Bigdog XUI
      • ssh to Bigdog:
        % ssh -X -Y bigdog.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX

      • Give the command to start the xui (do not need to set DISPLAY):
        % bigdogxui

3. Starting Guidedog's DV and XUI
   1. Starting DV
      • ssh to Guidedog:
        % ssh -X -Y guidedog.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX

      • Give the command to start DV (do not need to set DISPLAY):
        % startdv

   2. Starting the Guidedog XUI
      • ssh to Guidedog:
        % ssh -X -Y guidedog.ifa.hawaii.edu -l guestXX

      • Give the command to start the xui (do not need to set DISPLAY):
        % guidedogxui