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Doing TBB and pulsar observations from lofarx

Modified 15:51, 17 Dec 2012 by horneff | Page History

    Version as of 04:21, 17 May 2024

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    1) Prepare the shell on lofarx with a running ssh-agent:

    • log in on lofarx with "ssh observer@lofarx" from a machine in the mpifr LDAP network (e.g. your desktop or portal or so.)
      • if it asks for a password, don't bother, it won't work. You can try running "kinit" on you local machine before doing the ssh.
    • ssh-agent /bin/tcsh -l
    • ssh-add
      • give passphrase

    2) Boot up the station:

    • log into the LCU with "ssh de601c"
    • swlevel 2
      • RSPDriver and TBBDriver need to be running
    • tail -f /log/RSPDriver.log
      • wait till no more lines: "port ??? has not yet completed sync or had errors, trying to continue..." show up for several seconds
      • If anything strange appears, write it down in the observing logbook and tell the station team: lofar-ops@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de
      • end it with <CTRL-C>
    • tbbctl --version
      • all 12 TBB-boards should show up with their firmware and software versions, if one is "board not active", then please contact the station team for a "48V reset"
    • swlevel 3
      • In addition to RSPDriver and TBBDriver also BeamServer needs to be running
    • beamctl --antennaset=HBA_JOINED --rcus=0:191 --rcumode=5 --beamlets=0:243 --subbands=100:343 --anadir=0,1.5708,J2000 --digdir=0,1.5708,J2000&
      • This should reach "All pointings sent and accepted" pretty fast.
      • hit <enter> to get a clean commandline
      • Wait several seconds for all tiles to start up
    • rspctl --rcu
      • all 192 RCUs should be "ON" and in "mode:5"
      • if some are "OFF", wait a few seconds and try again
      • if some don't become "ON" then go bach to swlevel 1 and try again
    • rspctl --stati --int=3
      • check if the spectrum of all antennas look O.K.
    • killpointing
      • hit <enter> to get the confirmation that beamctl terminated

    3) Observe

    <still missing....>

    4) Finish up:

    • check with "at -l" if there are lingering at-jobs on th lofarN machines, if there are, kill them with "atrm"
    • shut down the hardware of the station with "swlevel 0"

    Comments:

    1. If at any time RSPDriver, TBBDriver, or BeamServer crash ("swlevel" show them as "DOWN") you need to go back to swlevel 1 and boot the station up again. (And note the fact in the logbook.)
    2. If nothing fails there is no need to change the swlevel on the station when observing multiple pulsars. Just leave it in "swlevel 3"