The NAOS Preparation Software

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What Is NAOS Preparation Software?

The goal of NAOS Preparation Software (NAOS PS) is to assist the observer during the preparation of NAOS-CONICA observations. It allows him/her to simulate the performance of the adaptive optics for the proposed targets. The output is a parameter file, containing all information to optimally set-up NAOS. This file has to be inserted in the Observation Blocks (OBs) created with P2PP . It also allows to call CONICA ETC - the exposure time calculator for the high-resolution near-infrared camera CONICA - in order to compute the required observation time.

The NAOS PS consists of:

PS Client (JNPS) - a Java-based application that provides an interactive interface to the PS Server which communicates via http protocol. It has to be installed and executed on a WS at the home institute of the astronomer (see below for installation),
PS Server - a C-based application that does the actual simulations which runs on a ESO Web server.

For further information, see the CONICA/NAOS Users' Manual.

Current Version: JNPS-1.101

Note about this release

The NAOS Preparation Software to be used for Period 81 is version 1.101. This release introduces new embedded PSF data that allows to use new features of the NACO ETC.

Important note: to be able to connect to the NAOS PS server with this version, please make sure to set up the file .jnpscf in your home directory, so that the server's URL reads:

server.name=www.eso.org/observing/etc/naosps

Users having observing runs for Period 80 must use JNPS-1.98, for compatibility reasons with the OB validation script and the PS central server. It can be found on this page.

Supported Platforms

In principle, JNPS 1.101 will work within any Java Virtual Machine which supports Java Runtime Environment (JDK) 1.5.0 or later. It has been reported to work using a variety of Unix and Linux flavors, as well as MacOS X.

Until further notice, ESO will only officially support JNPS under the following operating systems:

Scientific Linux 4.3

Complete installation kits for these systems, including an appropriate Java Runtime Environment, are available (see below).

If you wish to install and run JNPS under a different operating system, you do so at your own risk.

If you do not have access to a workstation running one of the officially support operating systems, please send e-mail to usd-help@eso.org .

JNPS Installation

Unix Installation Procedure

To install JNPS, you will need to retrieve the distribution kit for your operating system, unpack and install it, and start the JNPS executable. You may also need to retrieve a Java Runtime Environment, if you don't have one on your machine already.

Please follow these steps:

Move to the directory where you want to install JNPS.

Download the following installation kit:

jnps-1.101.tar.gz [2.1 Mbytes compressed]

Unpack the installation kit

gunzip -c jnps-1.101.tar.gz | tar xvf -

jnps-1.101/

If needed, download the Java Runtime Environment:

the NAOS PS will work with versions 1.5 and later of Java. If you already have a usable version of Java on your computer, go to the next step. (Hint: if you are using P2PP on your machine, then you already have a correct version of Java.)

Otherwise, download the following tarball:

jre1.5.0_06-Linux.tar.gz [Linux, 29.7 Mbytes compressed]

... and uncompress it on your machine:

gunzip -c jre1.5.0_06-Linux.tar.gz | tar xvf -

jre/

Set path to the Java executable

make sure that the java executable is accessible, setting your PATH variable appropriately. For example, if you have downloaded one of the above Java tarballs into your home directory, then you will need to set the PATH variable in this way:

for csh and tcsh shells:
```
setenv PATH ${HOME}/jre/bin:${PATH}
```
for sh and bash shells:
```
export PATH=${HOME}/jre/bin:${PATH}
```

Set proxy server information

.jnpscf

proxy.enable=true
proxy.name=[yourProxyServerName]
proxy.port=[yourProxyServerPort]

web-proxy.eso.org

3120

$HOME/.jnpscf

proxy.enable=true
proxy.name=web-proxy.eso.org
proxy.port=3120

Move to the JNPS bin directory and add it to your Unix PATH

for csh and tcsh shells:

cd jnps-1.101/bin
setenv PATH ${PATH}:${PWD}
rehash

for sh and bash shells:

cd jnps-1.101/bin
export PATH=${PATH}:${PWD}
hash -r

Execute JNPS

jnps

If the JNPS main panel appears, then you have successfully installed JNPS. You can delete the compressed TAR file.

Warning: Make sure you are really running JNPS 1.101. The JNPS version is listed at the top of the main window.

For a list of the changes in this release, see the list at the top of the PS FAQ page.

Suggestion: Update Your Unix Path Definitions

If you update the PATH definition in one of your rc or login files, you can run JNPS by simplying typing jnps next time you login. Possible files to update:

$HOME/.tcshrc
$HOME/.cshrc
$HOME/.login

Here is an example PATH line:

for csh and tcsh shells:

setenv PATH ${HOME}/jnps-1.101/bin:${HOME}/jre/bin:${PATH}

for sh and bash shells:

export PATH=${HOME}/jnps-1.101/bin:${HOME}/jre/bin:${PATH}

NAOS/CONICA Users' Manual

Check the NAOS-CONICA documentation page .

The user manual includes a Section specific to the Preparation Software.
It is more than 50 pages long. We suggest using a double-sided printer when making hardcopies.

Bug Reports

Please report JNPS bugs using the User Support Department helpdesk

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions for NAOS Preparation Software