Observing pulsars from lofarx

    Version as of 00:30, 20 May 2024

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

    • ssh-agent /bin/tcsh -l
    • ssh-add
      • give passphrase

    Boot up the station:

    • 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
    • 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 a few 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

     

    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.)