Re: Time for Software

[Nicholas Beser <beser@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu>]

Chris Albertson wrote:

> Nick and all,
>
> My (limited) experience is that IRAF  runs exatly the same on
> Linux as it does on Solaris.  Whatever Arne writes for Linux/IRAF
> should just work under Solaris as is.  I assume Arne when he says
> "scripts" means IRAF "CL" scripts.  If so they don't even have to
> be recompiled as CL is interpreted.  Same with database software.
> It is very portable between Linux/i386 and Solaris/SPARC.
>
> The control software I am writing is essentially a network
> interface to the Mk IV that accepts higher level commands than
> the STAMP such at "move to ra,dec" or "takeimage 200 seconds".
> it depends on another program to feed it these commands.  I
> include tools to write such a program in either C or TCL.  I've
> been calling this a "scheduler".  This is a big piece of code
> that some one needs to write.
>
> It will be interesting to see how the SPARC 10s perform.  They
> are now relics from a previous century and run at what, a whopping
> 50Mhz?  But they have good floating point performance relative
> to their clock speed maybe on par with a Pentium 120.  If you
> have enough 10's you could keep up in real time.
>

We currently use Sparc 2's for the Mark III data. We may also be able to get some
surplus Pentium (133MHz) computers if required. These are computers that are siting
in our surplus warehouse.

>
> I actually like old SPARCs and have a collection of them here at home.
> There is an IPC, Classic, II, 4 and three 5s. and boxes of spare parts.
> All salvaged or bought at fire sale price.  I'm trying to figure out
> what to do with them.  I could help with any Linux/Solaris porting
> problems that come up.  I've got a DEC Alpha computer here too.
> (I just couldn't pass up a chance to get one at $79.00.)  Linux
> runs well in Sun SPARCs.  To bad there is no IRAF for Linux/SPARC.
>

I thought that IRAF was originally compiled on the Sparc station.

Nick