Remote Access
Users can screen crystals and collect data from remote locations,
process their data and solve structures using the computers remotely
at SSRL, and work effectively with geographically dispersed
collaborators.
Experiments are carried out in a fully remote access mode
using a remote desktop application and beamline automation. The
Stanford Auto-Mounting (SAM) System is used to mount crystals from
high capacity cassettes which are stored in a liquid nitrogen dewar
in the experimental hutch. Users can flash-cool samples at their home
labs, load them into cassetes and ship them to SSRL in standard
cryo-shipping dewars. An Excel spreadsheet is used for sample
information and tracking which can be loaded into an SSRL
database.
A remote desktop application runs on the User's home computer
that displays an SSRL beamline desktop; Blu-Ice and data processing
programs run as if the User was at the beamline. The crystal
information in the SSRL database can be loaded into Blu-Ice and
crystals can be screened in an automated fashion using the
'Screening Tab'. After screening, absortpion scans and data
collection can proceed in the normal fashion.
The remote access tools enable implementation of BeamlineXpress, a beamline access program that
makes it easy for crystallographers with flexible schedules to obtain
beamtime on short notice and which allows a more efficient use of
beamtime.
A detailed description for collecting data remotely can be found
in the User's
Guide.
Remote Access Applications
- The Sample Database
stores information pertaining to samples mounted in cassettes.
Sample information in Excel spreadsheets associated with each
cassette can be read into the SSRL database via a web browser. The
database tools allow users to download templates for the
SSRL Cassette or the Unipuck Adapter, upload filled in Excel
spreadsheets and match database information with beamlines and
cassette locations within the dewar in the hutch.
- Remote access has enabled the implementation of BeamlineXpress, a beamline access program
that makes it easy for crystallographers with flexible schedules to
obtain beamtime on short notice and which allows a more efficient
use of beamtime.
- The Remote Desktop
provides users with a complete computational environment for
controlling and monitoring experiments, processing data, and
solving structures from anywhere in the world. It requires
NoMachine's NX client to be installed on the user's local
computer.
- The BeamlineXpress application can be
accessed here.
New users can obtain a login ID in the registration
page.
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