Metsähovi participates an EU RTD project FMGE-CT98.0101 ``Enhancing the European VLBI Network of Radio Telescopes''. Our contribution concentrated on providing technical support to EVN stations in deploying ``FS Linux 3'' in their Field System computers. Ari Mujunen cooperated with Ed Himwich (NASA/GSFC) in this process. A new version of the FS software was released, the latest being 9.4.18. This version supports the newest VLBI data acquisition rack variants, both Mark IV and VLBA4.
The project plan is to provide EVN stations Field System support so that existing VLBI projects can be run effectively and so that new emerging VLBI techniques will be enabled in the FS observations system. The technical prerequisites for adopting new FS software (that is, the adoption of ``FS Linux 3'') have been accomplished by the project. ``FS Linux 3'' has been widely adopted at EVN observatories.
The password-protected FTP area for FS software distribution is available at both Metsähovi Radio Observatory and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. 40 institutions world-wide have requested a password to get access to FS software and user accounts for them have been created. Automatic mirroring setup was created to ensure that both FTP servers have the same contents. ``FS Linux 3'' software is mirrored from Metsähovi to GSFC and ``FS'' software is mirrored from GSFC to Metsähovi.
Technical tutorials on FS Linux 3 daily use and system administration were prepared and presented in an international conference ``First IVS Technical Operations Workshop'' at MIT Haystack Observatory in March 2001.
Technical advancements in computer hardware necessitate the development of next-generation ``FS Linux 4'' package for FS use. Distribution archives and documentation for ``FS Linux 4'' are planned to be completed within year 2001.
The latest FS 9.4.18 version was installed in Metsähovi in the end of year 2000.
A problem with overheating CRU SCSI disk cartridges was resolved at Metsähovi by installing an external cooling fan to the cartridge.