report on ARNE

[<aah@nofs.navy.mil>]

We have had several queries from remote sites
about probes from the Linux control computer for
ARNE, which is living outside our firewall for
Chris to be able to program.  Since it sounds like
the system has been compromised, we are going to
bring it inside the firewall and rebuild the hard
disk, upgrading to Linux 7.1 while we are at it.
Whether it will be returned outside the firewall
depends on how secure I can make the computer.
Chris has suggested requiring SSH for logins
and turning everything else off; this might work
when the system is outside the firewall.  When
inside the firewall, we have everything (including SSH)
turned off; this is a military site and we get
hacking attempts almost daily.
  The shop is sending in a variety of parts for
anodizing, so they have taken the lens shades off
and are anodizing the retaining collars.  At the
same time, I had them make up two aperture masks
to reduce the camera aperture to 1.0 inches.  This
will enable the measurement of V=2 stars.  My
primary goal here is a long-term monitoring of Polaris,
several other bright variables, and to measure on
the Landolt system the original ten primary Johnson
UBV stars.
  The shop is also starting to design a permanent
cover for the system.  The tarp has just about worn
through and is far from an ideal solution.  I expect
this to be completed in about two weeks.
  Finally, I am going to start the observing program
again next week.  The concentration will be all-sky photometry
south of the equator to match with UCAC.  I will want
Tom's latest software next week to install, now that
he has the headers about right.
Arne