Astronomical
observing at
UKIRT and JCMT
(indeed, at
any large,
modern
observatory)
would be
impossible
without
computer
control of the
telescopes and
their
associated
instruments
and detectors.
The
function of
the Computer
Services Group
is to ensure
that the
computer
control
systems at the
telescopes are
operational,
and to
provide
general
computer
resources to
all of the JAC
staff. The JAC
is a
medium-sized
installation,
with
approximately
200 computing
devices
deployed
across 4
geographically-separated
sites and a
regular user
population of
around 80.
Personnel
Craig
Walther is
Head of
Computing and
Software
Services.
Henry
Stilmack is
a Senior
Computer/Information
Systems
Administrator,
primarily
responsible
for UNIX/Linux
system
administration,
network
administration,
and security.
David
Fuselier is a
Senior
Computer/Information
Systems
Administrator,
primarily
responsible
for Windows
NT/2000/XP
administration,
finance
systems, and
user support.
Systems
The UKIRT and
JCMT
telescopes are
controlled by
a multi-level
hierarchy of
computer
systems. The
low-level
motor control,
which
performs
positioning,
focus, and
filter
controls, is
done by
VME-connected
microprocessors.
These
processors are
driven by, for
older
instruments,
specialized
software
running on
VAX/VMS
systems,
and for newer
systems by
control
software
running on
commodity PC
hardware under
the Linux
operating
system. Our
staff use PCs
running Linux
(for
scientific
work and
software
development)
or
Windows XP
(for
engineering
and
administration).
We have a 1000
Mb/sec
Ethernet
connection
between the
headquarters
building in
Hilo and the
telescopes at
the summit of
Mauna Kea. Our
connection to
the
Internet is
via a 1000
Mb/sec
Ethernet into
a shared
multi-gigabit
connection to
the University
of Hawaii
campus
network.
Detailed
system
configuration
information is
available to
JAC staff here.
Contact: Henry Stilmack. Updated: Wed Jun 15 13:46:53 HST 2011
