Setting Up New Observatory Computers and Network
My old Exploradome computer was an HP dual-core Athlon originally running Windows XP and later Windows 7. It is old and slow now, so it's time for something a little newer and a lot faster.
One of my goals is to completely eliminate MS Windows from my observatory network. Everything will be running on Linux Mint, an OS I really enjoy using. I don't even want a Windows virtual machine running in Linux if I can help it. It's not that I don't know Windows, but quite the opposite. I'm a relatively new Linux user, just maybe six or seven years experience with it, but I was a Microsoft Certified Trainer, a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, and a network administrator, for many years before I retired. I've used every version of Windows up to Windows 10, but that's the end of the road for me. I find Linux is a breath of fresh air.
I now won't buy any equipment or software that won't run on Debian/Ubuntu (Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu) along with the INDI Library. And I won't "rent" software. I was an ardent Photoshop user until it became "rental" software so I dropped it. I moved to the Affinity suite which I like but I'm about to drop it too, because there is no Linux version and it apparently doesn't run under Wine either. I also used other astrophotography apps like Star Tools, and now I'm looking at Pixinsight.
One of my goals is to completely eliminate MS Windows from my observatory network. Everything will be running on Linux Mint, an OS I really enjoy using. I don't even want a Windows virtual machine running in Linux if I can help it. It's not that I don't know Windows, but quite the opposite. I'm a relatively new Linux user, just maybe six or seven years experience with it, but I was a Microsoft Certified Trainer, a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, and a network administrator, for many years before I retired. I've used every version of Windows up to Windows 10, but that's the end of the road for me. I find Linux is a breath of fresh air.
I now won't buy any equipment or software that won't run on Debian/Ubuntu (Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu) along with the INDI Library. And I won't "rent" software. I was an ardent Photoshop user until it became "rental" software so I dropped it. I moved to the Affinity suite which I like but I'm about to drop it too, because there is no Linux version and it apparently doesn't run under Wine either. I also used other astrophotography apps like Star Tools, and now I'm looking at Pixinsight.
A New Image Processing Workstation
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I purchased a refurbished HP Z420 workstation advertised with a 6-core, 12-thread 2.5GHz Xeon processor, 32GB of RAM and a 2TB HDD, for just $300 shipped. I was pleasantly surprised when I received a Z420 with an 8-core, 16-thread 2.6GHz Xeon at no extra charge. I only needed to add a 240GB SSD for the OS and the HP serial port option to have a "real" serial port.
It already has the no-tools case, extra case fans and ducting for improved cooling, a dual-port DVI video card, USB 3.0 ports, and a 600-watt PS. |
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For the OS I installed Linux Mint and started adding Astronomy related programs. And I plan to purchase Pixinsight for image processing.
I recently found a couple of brand new Acer 27" monitors at a local auction and they work great with the workstation. The keyboard is made by Saitek and has red backlit keys, and I also came across a G-Tech G-RAID 4TB backup drive that should come in handy. |
Originally I was planning to use this workstation for controlling everything in the dome, but as things have progressed plans have changed, I will be adding another computer in the dome and keep this workstation in the lab for image processing and remote access.
The Dome Computer
At this time I'm not planning to have a separate warm room attached to the dome, which means I'll not have a climate-controlled space for a normal PC. Instead I'll need a computer that can stand up to a wide range of temperatures and humidity.
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I found this used Advantech model MIC 7700Q online. It's listed as an industrial fanless computer and is built for harsher environmental conditions. Manuals and drivers are also available online and its specs are:
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For this location -10C is sufficient as I have some other gear with similar tempurature limits. It does occasionally get colder than that, but not by much. And the unit's max non-operating temps are -40C to 85C.
The MIC 7700 can run on any voltage from 9-36VDC, but the lower the voltage the higher the amperage. At 12VDC it has a max current draw of over 10Amps. Its AC power brick provides 19VDC @ 7.9Amps and since the dome will have AC power I'll just use a brick.
Linux Mint has been installed as the OS, plus Kstars, EKOS and INDI. Next the mount and imaging cameras will be setup.
The MIC 7700 can run on any voltage from 9-36VDC, but the lower the voltage the higher the amperage. At 12VDC it has a max current draw of over 10Amps. Its AC power brick provides 19VDC @ 7.9Amps and since the dome will have AC power I'll just use a brick.
Linux Mint has been installed as the OS, plus Kstars, EKOS and INDI. Next the mount and imaging cameras will be setup.
The NAS Server
I'm using Linux OpenMediaVault running on an Acer Aspire easyStore H340 as my network attached storage (NAS). It has a 2TB RAID 5 array for data storage and a 200GB drive for the OS and OpenMediaVault. It stores all my astrophotography backups.
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The Acer H340 was originally a Windows Home Server until WHS died on the vine. Then it became a Linux Amahi NAS, but there were a few things I didn't like about it, so I finally ended up with OpenMediaVault, which I really do like.
Out of the box the H340 is a headless NAS. There's no provision for attaching a monitor, but there is a header on the motherboard that allows for modifying the unit to add a VGA connector. Once I modified it, I replaced WHS with Linux and never looked back. |
Remote Control of Dome Power
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I picked up a used WattBox 300 to remote control the AC power in the dome. Since it's used I made sure to order one that had been tested and reset to its default configuration, including the username and password. It provides the capability of controlling three AC outlets through a web interface, which will let me control all my equipment power remotely. I found the manuals and configuration utility software on the SnapAV website and the setup was pretty easy.
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Page created 12/28/2021
Last update 4/18/2023
Last update 4/18/2023
