Observations: GMVA with DBBC3 @4 Gbps

Prerequisits

• Go through the system-setup and make sure the system is operational.
• Setup should be done in DDC_U mode (minimum version: 126)
• Board C should be connected to E090VLI (=LCP)
• Board D should be connected to E090HLI (=RCP)
• Two modules are loaded and connected into slot 1&2 of recorder3
• Make sure you have loaded the correct modules  intended for recording the GMVA session

DBBC3 initialization

• Log into the DBBC3 (user dbbc, password: ask Salvador/Helge); can be done also via remote desktop from mrt-vlbi2
• On the desktop double-click: "DBBC3 Control DDC_U_vXXX.exe.." icon (exact name can vary depending on the version)
• 

• Answer question "configure" with "y". Configuration will take 10-15 minutes. If the  DDC_U firmware was previously loaded  and you want to only re-initialize the system you can answer "n" to proceed (see next step)
• If you answered "n" on the previous question you will be asked whether to initialize the ADB3L/Core3H". Answer "y". This will take around 5 minutes. This step does not reload the firmware, but re-reads all configuration files, clears settings etc.

DBBC3 verification

• log into the control computer as user oper
• in terminal:      

cd  /home/oper/rottmann/dbbc3/utilities
./setupDBBC3_DDC_U.py dbbc3

• Check that all responses are [OK]
• In case of warnings or errors follow the suggestions printed by the script.

Mark6 module initialization

• Skip this section if there is already recorded data on the modules! The following steps will delete all data on the modules!
• log-into recorder3 as user oper: ssh recorder3
• make sure the modules are inserted in slots 1 and 2
• execute: da-client
• in da-client:

  mod_init=1:8:{VSN}:sg:new           replace    {VSN} with VSN as indicated on the label of module1 
  mod_init=2:8:{VSN}:sg:new        replace {VSN} with VSN as indicated on the label of module2
  group=new:12
  

Mark6 setup

• log-into recorder3:     ssh recorder3 -l oper -X
• execute:     m6service_restart
• execute:     da-client
• in da-client:

mstat?1
mstat?2

make sure the group is NOT in "open" state. If it is in "open" state you must first do:

group=close:12

Otherwise continue with:

input_stream=add:DBBC31:vdif:8224:50:42:eth3:::1
input_stream=add:DBBC32:vdif:8224:50:42:eth5:::2
input_stream=commit
group=open:12
mstat?1
mstat?2

The last statements should report the group to be in open:ready state, e.g.:

!mstat?0:0:12:1:MPI%3211/32000/4/8:8:8:31989:32000:open:ready:sg;
!mstat?0:0:12:2:MPIP%016/32000/4/8:8:8:31989:32000:open:ready:sg;

Loading/starting the schedule

• log-into recorder3 as user oper: ssh recorder3 -l oper -X
• Download/copy the vex file into the directory: /home/oper/shared/schedules
• Translate the vex-file

cd /home/oper/shared/schedules
vex2xml.py -f {vexfile} -s PV  (the station code must be the same than in the vex file)
less {vexfile} -s PV

• Check the contents of the produced xml-file. It should not be empty and contain several scan entries, similar to this:

<experiment name="a90xx" station="PV" start="2015090003000"  end="2015090032200">
        <scan experiment="a90xx" source="3C279" station_code="PV" start_time="2015090003000" duration="420" scan_name="090-0030"/>
        <scan experiment="a90xx" source="3C279" station_code="PV" start_time="2015090004500" duration="420"
        <scan experiment="a90xx" source="3C279" station_code="PV" start_time="2015090031500" duration="420" scan_name="090-0315"/>
</experiment>

NOTE: If the file is empty check that the station code given in the vex2xml.py command matches the station code for Pico Veleta of the vex-file.

• Start the schedule
  • Method 1 (prefered):

ssh recorder3
cd ~/shared/schedules
start_gmva.py {xmlfile}

where {xmlfile} is the xml-file produced by vex2xml.py (see above).

The script will start the schedule and in the scan gaps will display graphical information about the 16 PFB channels (bandpasses, and 2-bit statistics). The output is also stored in text-format under /home/oper/GMVA/{code}.

• Method 2 (backup):

ssh recoorder3
cd ~/shared/schedules
M6_CC -f {xmlfile}

where {xmlfile} is the xml-file produced by vex2xml.py (see above)

End of session / Module change

When the session has ended or when a new module needs to be inserted:

• in da-client:

group=close:12
group=unmount:12

turn the module keys off and remove the modules.

System verification & trouble shooting

cd  /home/oper/rottmann/dbbc3/utilities
./dbbc3ctl.py dbbc3

check recorder recorder3 eth3
check recorder recorder3 eth5

 tick

ssh recorder3 -Y -l oper
plot_dbbc3_64MHz.sh