2.   Starting the system


2.1.    Computer overview

The observer operates NIRIM from the computer called sand.  This Linux computer serves as the interface to the true acquisition computer called wheat. Data collected by wheat is deposited on sand's disk drives as FITS files for quick-look and reduction via IRAF, and for writing to DAT tapes, Exabyte tapes, or to CDROM.

The control and acquisition windows from wheat are displayed on the right-hand monitor of sand. IRAF windows are presented on the left-hand monitor.