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Using VNC with the IRTF

1.1. About VNC

VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing - it is software that enables you to have a virtual desktop (server) on another computer. This virtual desktop can then be accessed using various clients (X11 interfaces, browsers, etc), giving you access to your virtual desktop from any location. Visit the VNC home page for more information.

1.2. Requirements

The stand-alone vnc enterprise client software from RealVNC must be installed on the computer. The vnc client (vncviewer) should be downloaded from the vnc webpage and may be installed on Linux, Unix, Mac, and Windows computers. A ssh client is also required to create your guest account and also to tunnel your vncviewer connection if your site requires this. A three-button mouse is also required for Mac users.

  1. Install RealVNC Enterprise client software.
  2. Create a guest user account for your run.
  3. Install a three-button mouse on any Mac to be used.

1.3. Obtaining the VNC Client software

All users should download and install the free RealVNC Enterprise client for their operating system.

Note that we have been experiencing intermittent issues with some clients, and by standardizing on one client we are hoping to alleviate these issues.

The RealVNC Enterprise clients can be downloaded by going to www.realvnc.com. click "Download and try" for the Enterprise Edition, fill out the form, and then scroll down to the "Viewer Only" section to download the version for your operating system. You may download as many versions as you will need and all the "Viewer Only" software is free. Only the Enterprise packages that include a server are not free.

1.4. Accessing the VNC server

Contact the telescope operator at (808) 974-4210 (or any member of the IRTF staff) and request the display number for the instrument you will be using as well as the VNC password of the day. This password is used on all instrument VNC servers and changes daily at 7:00 AM.

There are 11 permanent displays assigned to instruments at this time. They are:

  • 1 - bigdog
  • 2 - guidedog
  • 3 - nsfcam2
  • 4 - nsfcam2
  • 5 - m2 (mirsi2)
  • 6 - m2 (mirsi2)
  • 7 - cshell
  • 8 - cshell
  • 9 - autofocu
  • 10 - t3remote
  • 11 - apogee

IRTF staff members can start an extra vnc server for you should you require one, for which you will need to provide your guest account number. Once it has been started you may access it and the instrument servers using one of the methods listed below.

1.5. Viewing the VNC session

Note that any combination and number of viewers may be used to view the desktop from a vnc server. For example, one observer could be running on a Sun using vncviewer, another a client running on a pc, and a third observer using a client on a Mac.

All clients require a hostname and display number to which the client will connect. The hostname should be stefan.ifa.hawaii.edu or 128.171.165.6 and the display number is designated as n below and should have been provided to you by the telescope operator or IRTF staff member from whom you obtained the VNC password.

1.5.1. Starting the VNC viewer in Unix

Open an xterm on your local computer and start the vnc client. You will be prompted for a password that will be given to you by the telescope operator.

% vncviewer stefan.ifa.hawaii.edu:n

Note: if you see a non-continuous (only a few gray levels) grayscale in DV, try running your client with the -FullColour or -FullColor options.

1.5.2. Starting the VNC viewer in Windows

Run the client and input the hostname and display: stefan.ifa.hawaii.edu:n. The VNC client will prompt you for a password that should have be given to you by the telescope operator.

1.5.3. Starting the VNC viewer in MacOS

Run the client and input the hostname and display: stefan.ifa.hawaii.edu:n. The VNC client will prompt you for a password that should have be given to you by the telescope operator.

1.5.4. Starting the VNC viewer in a browser

While it is possible to run a vnc viewer from any java-enabled browser (e.g. Netscape/Firefox/Mozilla or IE explorer), we do not support this method since the vnc java applet used by the browsers (whether on mac, windows, or linux) does not display the grayscale properly. It is restricted to 256 colors (8-bit) and there is no way to change that at this time.

1.6. Ending the VNC session

1.6.1. VNC Server for an instrument account

At the end of your observing period, and once the instrument mechanisms have been moved to their closedown positions, please exit your VNC session by closing your client. No other action is required.

Please do not close down the instrument guis or data viewers.

1.6.2. VNC Server for a guest account

When you are finished using the vnc server that was made for you (not the instrument servers), request that the telescope operator (or IRTF staff member) kill the server. You will need to provide the display number and the guest account for which the server was created. Please note that killing the server will disconnect all the client sessions and shut down the server. If you do not explicitly request the telescope operator to do this, it will be done at the end of every night/day anyway, so please make sure you have saved any work you are doing before closing down after your observing slot.

1.7. Staff VNC page

Staff members should be familiar with the instructions and information on the Staff VNC page.


maintained by webmaster (webmaster@irtf.ifa.hawaii.edu)
Last modified September 17, 2009
       
  NASA Infrared Telescope Facility