Run VNMR Remotely with X-windows

This procedure describes how to run VNMR on the Sun workstation (the Mac version will also apply to the SGI, nmr4, as of now the PC does not).

The way this works is that you are remotely logged onto the Sun workstation, but you are typing on your desktop computer, and VNMR will be displayed on your desktop computer. However, the VNMR program is physically running on the Sun workstation (there is no version of VNMR for PCs or Macs). If you get a connection refused error in the remote login, you need to contact me. As of now, there is some problem in remote access from the Clark Center; I am looking into the problem; you should be able to access data from the Clark Center, if not, I
can likely fix that, but remote display is not working properly.

The advantages of this method relative to using NUTs on your computer are:

1) It is still VNMR, so there is no learning curve on the software.

2) VNMR, especially for 2D data sets, is a better program, it is much more powerful in what it can do, despite the quirks in the VNMR software.

The disadvantages of this method are:

1) If numerous people try to use the workstation remotely, the VNMR program will run slow. Also, if the network is overloaded, the display update will be slow. However, if there is a burst in usage of the workstation, we will likely buy more workstations.

2) The data is not right there on your computer, there are slightly more steps involved with looking at the data than running NUTs locally.

3) There are some computer security risks involved in the process.

4) Some UNIX knowledge is helpful.

How to run VNMR remotely on Sun workstation:

Step 1:
You have to have an account on the workstation (nmr1). Usage of the workstation is free; I will give an account on nmr1 to anyone with an account on any instrument, but you have to ask so that we can setup a password.

Step 2:
You have to transfer data to the workstation from the nmr computers.

Login to nmr1.
If you are typing on nmr1 follow these instructions, to do this remotely, you will need to do the same thing except you will be typing in Xwindow (described how to get to below).
Open up a UNIX terminal window by holding down the right mouse button, under Tools menu, select Terminal window.

Type:
xdir

Then, under Connect menu, select Connect to Remote.
If the nmr computer that you are trying to transfer data is listed, select it, if not, type the computer name,
ui500.stanford.edu
ui500.stanford.edu
merc400.stanford.edu
ui300.stanford.edu
gem300.stanford.edu
gem200.stanford.edu

It asks for a password, this is the password on the nmr instrument that you are logging into.

Find the files that you want to transfer, and drag them to the other window (the local window). If you do not see the files that you are looking for, you are in the wrong directory, so under the Goto menu, select Directory, and then type:
/export/home/user_name/vnmrsys/data
If you still do not see your files, try:
/data/user_name
If you still do not see your files, you probably need to ask me.

Step 3. You need to have an Xwindows type program on your PC/Mac.

Mac OS X:

OS X is a UNIX operating system. Xwindows applications are standard applications for UNIX.

There is a program called X11 for OS X available for download from Apple website, but VNMR seems to have problems with it.

There is another program called X Darwin. You can download it from:
http://www.xdarwin.org/

The download is free if you either compile the software yourself or via ftp then follow installation instructions- the website will give you the various options by email or on the website. You could pay 20$ for a program which allows for easier installation, i.e. there is no UNIX knowledge required to install. If necessary I should be able to help install it.

You will need the root password for installation.

Start the X Darwin program; it will ask you a question:
Full Screen or Rootless- either should work fine

An xterm window should open, you need to give permission to display remote host so you probably need to type:
xhost + nmr1

Then you need to login to nmr1 so type:
ssh -l your_login_name nmr1.stanford.edu

Note that it is simply ssh if your login name on the Mac matches your nmr1 login name. Also, you should be able to use just nmr1 rather than nmr1.stanford.edu if your DNS is configured right. Thus,
ssh nmr1
should work fine

If there is a connection denied or similar error let me know, and probably youshould include the first 3 numbers in the IP address, e.g. 171.64.121 or similar as nmr1 denies unknown IP addresses.

You should then be logged into nmr1, then the window asks what type of terminal, if you type:
x
then it asks you for a host, then type the IP address of your computer or the name of your computer on the network
or
if you hit return key after the what terminal question, then type:
setenv DISPLAY your_IP_address:0.0

Note that your network computer name could be substituted for the IP address.

Start VNMR by typing vnmr.

Run as normal.

Exit out of vnmr by typing:
exit

Logoff off of nmr1 workstation by typing:
exit
in xterm window.

Be sure prompt goes back to your Mac computer name.

OS 9 or earlier:

Option 1:
You can download the vncviewer program from:
http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/index.html

and then follow the directions for PCs below. I assume that it should work similarly although I have not tried this.


Option 2:
If you can find the software: MacX; that will workI don't know where to get it any more though; probably available somewhere.


PC:
There are a number of pay programs which will work well.

I have found a free program that works ok- mostly; I am told that Varian uses this when they run their software remotely as well.

The program is called VNC (Virtual Network Computer).

You can download it for free from:
http://www.realvnc.com/download.html

You need to install it on your PC as you would any program.

I think that it will put an icon on your desktop, if not you should be able to run the program by opening it from the Program Files menu. If you have trouble at this point see me.

This program is a viewer program, you must start a server program on the workstation for you to be able to view anything from your PC.

Thus, you must login to the workstation and start the server. Presumably, you want to login remotely from your PC to the workstation. Thus, you need a UNIX terminal program on your computer:
Samson for Windows will work indirectly, Secure CRT will work directly. Both are downloadable from Stanford ITSS:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/itss/ess/pc/pc.html

With Samson, you must login to one of the Stanford servers such as Cardinal or Elaine, so Connect to Cardinal or Connect to Elaine. Then, you must open a secure shell to nmr1 workstation, so in cardinal or elaine prompt type:
ssh nmr1
it then asks for your password, this is your password on nmr1. If your nmr1 login name does not match your cardinal login name (which is your SUNet ID), you must instead type:
ssh -l your_nmr1_login_name nmr1

With Secure CRT, you can directly login to nmr1. Use Connect menu then create a new session (it is the third icon over after clicking on Connect menu).
Input the following:
Name: nmr1
Protocol: ssh1 (soon it will be ssh2, for now it is ssh1)
Hostname: nmr1.stanford.edu

Username: your_nmr1_login_name

When you then click on Connect to nmr1, it will then prompt you for a password, this is your nmr1 password.

You should now have a UNIX terminal logged into nmr1, whether you are using Secure CRT or Samson.

In UNIX terminal type:
vncserver

The first time you do this it will ask for you to create a password, so create and then verify the password. After the first time, it will simply start the vncserver program. It should then say:
New 'X' desktop is nmr1:some_number
Starting applications...
Log file ...

Now the server has started, so you need to open the viewer on your PC.
Start vncviewer by clicking on VNC icon on desktop or through program menu.

The vncviewer asks for a vncserver name and number. The name should be:
nmr1.stanford.edu

The number is the number from above after you typed vncserver in UNIX terminal (where it says 'X' dekstop)
so the server name should be:
nmr1.stanford.edu: number_from_vncserver

The vncviewer asks for a password, the password is vncpassword that you previously estalished.

The vncviewer program should then open into your account on the nmr1 workstation.

The UNIX terminal window asks for a type of terminal, type:
s
<return>

for Sun terminal.

Start VNMR by typing:
vnmr

VNMR should start and look like it normally does.

You can load data files by clicking of File menu button, then find your filename and highlight it by clicking on it, then click on Load button

You can then process data as normal, e.g.:
wft f aph

Once you are finished with VNMR, exit out of VNMR by typing:
exit

Then, close vncviewer program.

And, kill the vncserver that you were running so type:
vncserver -kill :number_from_vncserver

Then, logout of UNIX terminal, so type:
exit

And quit Secure CRT program or Samson program, by selecting Exit button under File menu button.