Add merlin_rmount documentation

pages/merlin6/02-How-To-Use-Merlin/merlin-rmount.md

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+---
+title: Using merlin_rmount
+#tags:
+keywords: >-
+    transferring data, data transfer, rsync, dav, webdav, sftp, ftp, smb, cifs,
+    copy data, copying, mount, file, folder, sharing
+last_updated: 24 August 2023
+#summary: ""
+sidebar: merlin6_sidebar
+permalink: /merlin6/merlin-rmount.html
+---
+
+## Background
+
+Merlin provides a command for mounting remote file systems, called `merlin_rmount`. This
+provides a helpful wrapper over the Gnome storage utilities (GIO and GVFS), and provides support for a wide range of remote file formats, including
+- SMB/CIFS (Windows shared folders)
+- WebDav
+- AFP
+- FTP, SFTP
+- [complete list](https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/8/html/using_the_desktop_environment_in_rhel_8/managing-storage-volumes-in-gnome_using-the-desktop-environment-in-rhel-8#gvfs-back-ends_managing-storage-volumes-in-gnome)
+
+
+## Usage
+
+
+### Start a session
+
+First, start a new session. This will start a new bash  shell in the current terminal where you can add further commands.
+
+```
+$ merlin_rmount --init
+[INFO] Starting new D-Bus RMOUNT session
+
+(RMOUNT STARTED) [bliven_s@merlin-l-002 ~]$
+```
+
+Note that behind the  scenes this is creating a new dbus daemon. Running multiple daemons on the same login node leads to unpredictable results, so it is best not to initialize multiple sessions in parallel.
+
+### Standard Endpoints
+
+Standard endpoints can be mounted using
+
+```
+merlin_rmount --select-mount
+```
+
+Select the desired url using the arrow keys.
+
+![merlin_rmount --select-mount](/images/rmount/select-mount.png)
+ 
+From this list any of the standard supported endpoints can be mounted.
+
+### Other endpoints
+
+Other endpoints can be mounted using the `merlin_rmount --mount <endpoint>` command.
+
+![merlin_rmount --mount](/images/rmount/mount.png)
+
+
+### Accessing Files
+
+After mounting a volume the script will print the mountpoint. It should be of the form
+
+```
+/run/user/$UID/gvfs/<endpoint>
+```
+
+where `$UID` gives your unix user id (a 5-digit number, also viewable with `id -u`) and
+`<endpoint>` is some string generated from the mount options.
+
+For convenience, it may be useful to add a symbolic link for this gvfs directory. For instance, this would allow all volumes to be accessed in ~/mnt/:
+
+```
+ln -s ~/mnt /run/user/$UID/gvfs
+```
+
+Files are accessible as long as the `merlin_rmount` shell remains open.
+
+
+### Disconnecting
+
+To disconnect, close the session with one of the following:
+
+- The exit command
+- CTRL-D
+- Closing the terminal
+
+Disconnecting will unmount all volumes.
+
+
+## Alternatives
+
+### Thunar
+
+Users that prefer a GUI file browser may prefer the `thunar` command, which opens the Gnome File Browser. This is also available in NoMachine sessions in the bottom bar (1). Thunar supports the same remote filesystems as `merlin_rmount`; just type the URL in the address bar (2).
+
+![Mounting with thunar](/images/rmount/thunar_mount.png)
+
+When using thunar within a NoMachine session, file transfers continue after closing NoMachine (as long as the NoMachine session stays active).
+
+Files can also be accessed at the command line as needed (see 'Accessing Files' above).
+
+## Resources
+
+- [BIO docs](https://intranet.psi.ch/en/bio/webdav-data) on using these tools for
+  transfering EM data
+- [Redhad docs on GVFS](https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/8/html/using_the_desktop_environment_in_rhel_8/managing-storage-volumes-in-gnome_using-the-desktop-environment-in-rhel-8)
+- [gio reference](https://developer-old.gnome.org/gio/stable/gio.html)