Computer Systems
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Computer Support Staff
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General Computer Help
computers@silicon.eecs.berkeley.edu
See the computers section of our website
for more information.
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Why Mercury?
Mercury became the moniker
for the system because of the
association of Mercury with
Roman mythology:
A god that served as messenger to
the other gods
and was himself the god of
commerce, travel, and thievery
(and eloquence).
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Commonly Used Terminology
MERCURY CLIENT – Program to execute tasks in the Nanolab
MERCURYWEB – Web site to reserve equipment, etc
HYDRA – Equipment control system for the Nanolab.
RUMS2 – Resource Management System (Nanolab)
CAPE2 – Lab Terminals and remote desktop server
L-Edit, gds2tap – Layout editing, cad format conversion
MERCURY4 – UNIX server for CAD conversion
REMOTE DESKTOP – a desktop from a remote server (CAPE2)
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Nanolab Overview
HYDRA
CONTROL
Relational
Database
Server
(multiple
sessions)
Resource
Management
(RUMS2)
Query Gas Usage
Query Tank Level
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Mercury connects to the database, equipment
controller, and resource management system.
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Getting Started in the Nanolab
Go to a terminal CAPE
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(Common And Personal Environment)
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Manual Login Sheets
Use the manual login sheets when there is a server problem.
Make sure to listen to announcements regarding equipment overrides.8
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Connect to CAPE
Connect to cape
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Login to CAPE
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Start Mercury client
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Login to Mercury
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Login to Mercury
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Mercury Client
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Mercury Tasks
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Equipment Problem Reporting
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Hide CAPE
Hide your CAPE
When leaving a terminal, click on the HIDE CAPE
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MercuryWeb login
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MercuryWeb member menu
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MercuryWeb reservations
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cad conversion and gds2tap
• Available on mercury4.banatao.berkeley.edu
Done.
• To request access
send email to computers@silicon.eecs.berkeley.edu
• Email cad@silicon.eecs.berkeley.edu
for layout
Please remember to enable
X11questions
forwarding when connecting to
mercury4.
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Learn the Unix Basics !
cd d
Change to directory d
mkdir d
Create new directory d
rmdir d
Remove directory d
mv f1 [f2...] d
Move file f to directory d
mv d1 d2
Rename directory d1 as d2
passwd
Change password
vi [f]
Vi fullscreen editor
cat f
List contents of file
more f
List file contents by screen
chmod mode f
Change protection mode of f
cp f1 f2
Copy file f1 into f2
sort f
Alphabetically sort f
mv f1 f2
Rename file f1 as f2
rm f
Delete (remove) file f
grep 'ptn' f
Outputs lines that match ptn
diff f1 f2
Lists file differences
ls -1 [f...]
List files in details
history
Display recent commands
!n
Submit recent command n
Search the web for Unix Help
Learn vi Basics (an editor found on all Unix/linux systems
Search the web for vi help or tutorials
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Plotter
HP Designjet T1100ps plotter
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e-mail info
• Address to equipname at silicon.eecs.berkeley.edu.
• No attachments can be sent to equipment aliases.
• Easiest to send through MercuryWeb
• May be sent from email (webmail) client, but must
come from .berkeley.edu domain.
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Accounts
You have 2 NanoLab computer accounts:
1) Windows on CAPE2
2) UNIX on Mercury4
Files On
Silicon2,
Mercury4
Backed Up
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Files On
Cape2
Backed Up
Local Systems
(microscopes)
FILES NOT BACKED UP
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Connecting
External Connections To Unix Servers:
Use Secure-Shell
 Terminal Connection
 File Transfer
See the NanoLab web page section on computer use
for more information.
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The Nanolab
Computing Environment
Activities in the laboratory are tracked, regulated, and accounted for with laboratory management software
called Mercury. Members use this software when in the lab by starting the program and authenticating into a
session. If the member has appropriate qualifications, they can utilize functions provided by the software to use
equipment, file reports, check activities, and execute a variety of other tasks.The most common way to use the
Mercury is on a remote desktop session from a Windows Terminal Server called CAPE2 (Common and Personal
Environment). Additionally, some of the software utilized for laboratory operations is available through the
Marvell Nanolab web portal or MercuryWeb; this includes reservations, qualifications, and member information.
Outlined below are some basic steps required to get started.
1.
Logging In
The first step to using the laboratories is to logon to the CAPE2 (Common And Personal Environment)
server by starting a remote-desktop session from a PC in the reception area. Once logged in you will click
on a "Mercury" icon to start your session. When using the Mercury it is important to login to the
laboratory because: It lets others know that you are in the lab. It initializes accounting functions.It permits
you to enable and disable equipment. It shows you the state of the lab equipment and allows you to file
problem reports.
2.
CAPE2 (Common and Personal Environment) – Overview
CAPE2 terminals provide a Windows environment and access to a Mercury session. The CAPE2 terminal
acts as a “hot desk.” Your session will stay active as you move to different terminals in the lab. After
entering the lab and logging into CAPE2, you will need to login to the Mercury. When you are ready to
leave the lab, log out of the Mercury and disconnect your remote desktop session by double-clicking on
the icon “Hide your CAPE”. Your CAPE2 will be hidden automatically after 10 minutes of non-activity to
free up the terminal for others to use. Also, use “Hide your CAPE” prior to leaving the lab. Local mail
clients (Outlook Express) are not allowed on Cape2. You can check your department mail by using a web
based mail client.
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3.
Mercury – Overview
Nanolab users will use Mercury to enable/disable equipment and file problem reports. This system starts
up by clicking on the "Mercury" icon on the CAPE2 remote desktop. Login by entering your user name
and password (your project will also appear on the screen). The Mercury interface has selectable tasks
on the left pane and forms or tables on the right pane. Tabs on the bottom and right side of the interface
allow you to switch back and forth between various forms or tables. Most tasks in the lab can be done by
selecting the "Equipment" task on the left side pane. On the right side you will see a list of available
equipment.
The status of the equipment is shown under the status column. A green status indicates that
the equipment is ready to use, yellow indicates a problem report has been filed, but the equipment is still
operational in a limited manner, a red status indicates that the equipment requires attention and is not
operational. If a row on the equipment list shows a membername, it means that the equipment is enabled
by that member. The equipment table has drop down menu labeled "Action". You can use this menu to
show your qualifications or refresh the table. By selecting a row on the equipment table and right-clicking,
a pop-up menu will appear with equipment specific actions such as enabling/disabling, filing a problem
report, sending mail, or viewing qualified members. Other tasks on Mercury operate in a similar manner.
Mercury has a companion web site called MercuryWeb (accessible both through the Marvell Nanolab web
site and the Mercury Client). This site allows you to make reservations, view inventory, check equipment
status, see who is in the lab, and do various other tasks that may be done outside the laboratory. Use the
buttons provided by MercuryWeb to navigate through its features instead of the back button on your
browser. MercuryWeb is can be used from any remote location. Mercury Client is available only from the
CAPE desktop.
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4.
Unix & Windows Accounts
Members are provided with a computer account on a Windows Terminal Server "CAPE2" and on a Solaris
server cluster, "silicon". The silicon cluster consists of the following machines that members can access:
silicon2.eecs.berkeley.edy, and mercury4.banatao.berkeley.edu. Members use silicon2 to run tystar
monitoring utilities.Members use mercury4 to run cpu intensive CAD programs such as gds2tap. Regardless
of which server on the silicon cluster you use, your home directory will be the same. Remote access to
silicon2 and mercury4 is done with Secure-Shell.The CAPE account is used by members while in the
Nanolab. Your CAPE remote desktop provides access to the Mercury program. See
https://nanolab.berkeley.edu/MNLmembers/computers/cape2.html.
Members and staff have e-mail accounts addressed as login@silicon.eecs.berkeley.edu. Our systems
forward member e-mail to an external account they specify when their account is setup (such as BMail,
gmail, etc). Please check your mail regularly because we send out information pertaining to reservations,
equipment shutdowns, and other important lab activity via e-mail. Messages may also be delivered when
logging into one of our systems. Please do not ignore these messages because they may contain
information regarding safety and other operational news for the Nanolab (in many cases these messages are
not relayed via e-mail).
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6.
Reporting Equipment Problems & Maintenance
The cooperation of all labmembers is required to keep our equipment up and running. The computing
systems in the Nanolab provide an easy and efficient way of monitoring equipment problem status and
notifying the equipment engineering staff when trouble arises with a given machine.
In the Marvell Nanolab: Report problems on Mercury (left click equipment name, right click for drop down
menu, select Report Problems).
Computers associated with equipment, must not be modified in any ways. They are not to be used for playing
games, surfing the net or storing labmember files. Do not install or modify screen savers or wallpaper. Failure
to follow this rule will result in suspension from the Nanolab. If there is an issue with an equipment computer,
file a FAULT report.
Reporting: When you disable any system, the computer will prompt you as to whether you have a problem to
report. Answering yes will automatically place you into the problem-reporting program in which you must
describe, clearly and completely, the problem you encountered. A comment like "machine doesn’t work" is not
acceptable. Explain how the problem showed itself, what you were doing when it occurred, and what steps
you took to correct it. You can cc: (carbon copy) the problem report to anyone you think might want to see it,
such as other people in your group who you know may want to use the system that day. It is not necessary to
cc: problem mail to any staff members, as they receive copies automatically.
Once entered, the problem report will appear on the screen whenever anyone subsequently tries to enable
this machine, until a staff member clears the problem. Also, it will be mailed automatically to the engineer-incharge. Remember, the more detailed the description of the problem the more quickly and efficiently the
engineer will be able to isolate and correct it. Once the problem has been logged in the computer, you may try
to locate the engineer-in-charge by calling the office on the intercom if your need of the machine is pressing.
Equipment Power: Unless there is a life-threatening emergency, NEVER shut off power to a machine!
This may cause a system failure.
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