Backup Remote Observing

Occasionally, the connection to the Atlanta CHARA server goes down due to network problems or planned network maintenance at the GSU Data Center, where it is located.

When the connection is down, we can use the Backup Remote Observing Center (BROC). This machine is located on the mountain, and can be accessed through ThinLinc.

To use BROC, you will need the ThinLinc client: https://www.cendio.com/thinlinc/download/

Once you are running the ThinLinc client, select “Advanced” and connect with the following information:

• Server: broc.chara-array.org
• Username: observe
• Password: <the observe password>

ThinLinc uses the VNC protocol running through an SSH tunnel, so it provides all the benefits of VNC, but is as secure as SSH. One of the few differences between ThinLinc and the VNC software we use for the standard remote observing machines is that ThinLinc does not offer a “view-only” mode. So, if you want someone to be able to see what you're doing, you will need to share your screen through some other service (e.g., webex, zoom, discord, etc.).

Once you are connected to BROC, you can engage the SSH tunnel connection to the other machines on the mountain by running the Check SSH Tunnel command.