e-RemoteCtrl: Concepts for VLBI station control as part of NEXPReS

1. e-RemoteCtrl: Concepts for VLBI station control as part of NEXPReS Arpad Szomoru (JIVE) Alexander Neidhardt (FESG), Martin Ettl (FESG), Matthias Mühlbauer (BGK), Walter Alef (MPIfR), Ed Himwich (NASA/GSFC), Christopher Beaudoin (MIT-Haystack), Christian Plötz (BKG), Arpad Szomoru (JIVE)

2. NEXPReS Novel EXplorations Pushing Robust e-VLBI Services

3. NEXPReS WP5/Task 3: Continuous quality monitoring & Station Remote Control Novel EXplorations Pushing Robust e-VLBI Services • three-yearproject • aimedatfurtherdevelopinge-VLBI servicesofthe European VLBI Network (EVN) • incorporatinge-VLBI intoeveryastronomicalobservationconductedbythe EVN. • 15 astronomicalinstitutesand National Research and Education Network (NREN) providers • e‑Infrastructure projectfundedbythe European Union'sSeventh Framework Programme • Fourmaintechnicalactivities: - CloudCorrelation - DynamicallyProvisioned Network Resources - Computing in a Shared Infrastructure - Provisioning High-Bandwidth, High-CapacityNetworked Storage

4. WP5 at JIVE: • Dealingwithincreasingcomplexityofoperations • Handling ofdatastreams in real-time, recorded, mixed • At 1, 2, 4, 10 (?) Gbps • More frequent/irregulare-VLBI observationsinvolve • Much improvedmonitoring • Bothhardware, network • (semi) automatedscheduling • Rapid feedback • Robust warningsystems NEXPReS first year review – Brussels – September 8, 2011

5. NEXPReS WP5/Task 3: Continuous quality monitoring & Station Remote Control Novel EXplorations Pushing Robust e-VLBI Services • three-year project • aimed at further developing e-VLBI services of the European VLBI Network (EVN) • incorporating e-VLBI into every astronomical observation conducted by the EVN. • 15 astronomical institutes and National Research and Education Network (NREN) providers • e‑Infrastructure project funded by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme • Four main technical activities: - Cloud Correlation - Dynamically Provisioned Network Resources - Computing in a Shared Infrastructure - Provisioning High-Bandwidth, High-Capacity Networked Storage WP5/Task 3: (TUM, MPIfR, JIVE) • identify and re-act on observation failures in near real-time • improve diagnostics • allow direct (read) access to the field system control parameters • extend the capabilities of the NASA Field System by - remote control with authentication, authorization and a operator role management - station and system monitoring

6. NEXPReS WP5/Task 3: Continuous quality monitoring & Station Remote Control July 1st now

7. Remote Control (“e-RemoteCtrl” software)

8. „e-RemoteCtrl“ software – the original test bed Tele-working Remote Control on Site Communication RT Wettzell/ Germany TTW Wettzell/ Germany TIGO Concepción/Chile GARS O’Higgins/Antarctica

9. „e-RemoteCtrl“ software – the communication stack for a remote operator Graphical User Interface (GUI) Client (currently wxWidgets) RPC Interface- definition FS Monitor Client GUI FS Monitor Client Communication Communication generated with the software generator idl2rpc.pl RPC e-RemoteCtrl TCP/IP-Network FS Monitor Server Communication Server functionality FS Monitor Server Functionality FS Monitor NASA Field System Wettzell Software Toolbox (well tested SW modules) Device … Device … Device … RPC = (Sun) Remote Procedure Calls SSH = Secure Shell

10. „e-RemoteCtrl“ software – the communication stack for a remote operator Graphical User Interface (GUI) Client (currently wxWidgets) RPC Interface- definition FS Monitor Client GUI sshbroker FS Monitor Client Communication Communication generated with the software generator idl2rpc.pl Establish& Control SSH tunnels RPC e-RemoteCtrl TCP/IP-Network FS Monitor Server Communication Server functionality FS Monitor Server Functionality FS Monitor NASA Field System Wettzell Software Toolbox (well tested SW modules) Device … Device … Device … RPC = (Sun) Remote Procedure Calls SSH = Secure Shell

11. „e-RemoteCtrl“ software – some impressions Status monitor Mark 5 capacity Logging System temperature User input Chat Connection state Connection information

12. „e-RemoteCtrl“ software – some impressions Permanent logfile filter Alarm sound (on/off) Filter logfiles by userdefined tokens Operator Input Commandline history Safe logfiles

13. „e-RemoteCtrl“ software – authentication & authorization An authentication and authorization mechanism. Confirm someone is authentic and permited to access Give him a role Password + Username Individual, station specific access rights for every individual client users with fine grained access levels (e.g. only read rights for monitoring or dedicated change rights to interact)

14. SysMon System Monitoring at Wettzell

15. SysMon – System Monitoring at Wettzell - Collect data from several sensors at the telescope and site - Visualize the data with graphs and diagrams - Archive the collected data - (React according to predefined rules ) → Get a better knowledge about the system behavior during 1. Session 2. Post processing

16. Data for science and analysis Data for system operations Data for diagnosis SysMon – System Monitoring at Wettzell Local safety for people and systems in combination with reliability in operations Meteo, WVR, Clock offsets, … => low sampling rates => as scheduled Power supply, wind uploads, emergency stops, rack temp., … => medium sampling rates => permanently Servo currents, contouring errors, … => high sampling rates => on demand See also: Monitoring and Control Interface Collaboration Group

17. SysMon – System Monitoring at Wettzell

18. SysMon – System Monitoring at Wettzell Windsensor display Safety-system display

19. Current status – a “e-RemoteCtrl” network

20. Current status – a “e-RemoteCtrl” network IVS Cont11 Test parallel remote attendance test

21. Current status – a “e-RemoteCtrl” network Wettzell Control TIGO e-RemoteCtrl Wettzell Mark5B+ Control TIGO Webcam TIGO Shifts

22. Thank you Software available under http://www.econtrol-software.de