====== Access to LOFAR ======

How to get access to LOFAR facilities and become a participant in the project

===== How to become a participant in the project =====

  * If you are part of one of the Astronomical Key Science Projects, please use your designated contact person.
  * If you are part of one of the International partners of LOFAR, please contact your designated contact person.
  * If you are not part of any of the above, please contact us through the [[https://support.astron.nl/rohelpdesk|ASTRON helpdesk]].

===== Long Term Archive =====

You will need the Science Data Centre (SDC) Operations group to grant you access, unless you are already a member in MoM of the project you are trying to access data for. Once you have access and updated your password you should use the [[:public:lta_howto|Long Term Archive manual]].

===== How to get access to the LOFAR systems =====

**[[:public:guap|Before you access any Lofar system, please take notice of our General User Access Policy (GUAP)]]**

==== Central Processing Systems ====

Once you are a participant of the project and you need access to the CEP systems as a programmer or scientist, you will need this information:

  * Get your contact person (e.g. SDC Operations) to request an account on the systems and specify what permissions you'll need.
  * Ensure that you can enter the portal node (''portal.lofar.eu'') with your new account.
  * Learn the basics of the [[:public:lle|Lofar Login Environment]] available at Central Processing.
  * Learn the overall layout and use of the [[:public:lofar_cluster|central processing (CEP) systems]]
  * Learn how to use [[:public:ssh-usage|ssh keys, ssh-agents and ssh port forwarding]].
  * Learn how to use a [[:public:vnc-usage|VNC server]]
  * Learn how to use [[:public:freenx-windows-client|the FreeNX client for compressed X11 output]].
  * Choosing [[:public:strong_passwords|strong passwords]].

===== Wiki =====

You will have to register. See [[:start|The LOFAR wiki start page]].