Field System TopicsField System Topics

Ed Himwich, John Gipson, Ed Himwich, John Gipson, and Jonathan Quickand Jonathan Quick

Current Status - FS 9.10.0Current Status - FS 9.10.0

Mark 5B Recorder SupportMark 5B Recorder SupportMark 5 Sampler Module Support Mark 5 Sampler Module Support

Rack types Mark5 and VLBA5Rack types Mark5 and VLBA5Not suitable for Mark 5A Recorder, but 9.10.1 will beNot suitable for Mark 5A Recorder, but 9.10.1 will beGNPLT bug fixesGNPLT bug fixesSystests improved and Mark5B rack/recorder supportSystests improved and Mark5B rack/recorder supportDRUDGDRUDG

Support for Dymo printers under FS Linux 6, Support for Dymo printers under FS Linux 6, “sarge”“sarge”Equipment selection improvedEquipment selection improvedNew Mark IV rack patch algorithm to better New Mark IV rack patch algorithm to better harmonize geodesy and astronomyharmonize geodesy and astronomy

FS 9.10.1 (November 2007)FS 9.10.1 (November 2007)

Supports Mark 5A (again)Supports Mark 5A (again)

Fixes “fmset” problem for rack=none for Fixes “fmset” problem for rack=none for recorder=Mark5Brecorder=Mark5B

Fixes error in default values (“*”) in “vsi4” commandFixes error in default values (“*”) in “vsi4” command

Elimination of “postob_mk5” procedureElimination of “postob_mk5” procedure

Fix for “preob” issue with “early start” may be Fix for “preob” issue with “early start” may be included, otherwise in 9.10.2included, otherwise in 9.10.2

Other minor fixes and improvementsOther minor fixes and improvements

FS 9.10.2 (Winter 2007-2008)FS 9.10.2 (Winter 2007-2008)

Fix for “preob” issue with “early start” if was not in Fix for “preob” issue with “early start” if was not in 9.10.19.10.1

Eliminate use of some mk5=… commands for normal Eliminate use of some mk5=… commands for normal operationsoperations

Phase-cal extraction support for Mark IV decoders?Phase-cal extraction support for Mark IV decoders?

CHEKR monitoring of Mark5CHEKR monitoring of Mark5

Update Mark 5 “Remaining Capacity” display while Update Mark 5 “Remaining Capacity” display while recordingrecording

S2 DAS support put on holdS2 DAS support put on hold

Other small items generated by this meeting …Other small items generated by this meeting …

Mark 5B Recorder SupportMark 5B Recorder Support

New “mk5b_mode” command to set Mark 5B modeNew “mk5b_mode” command to set Mark 5B mode““fmset” support for time setting/checking and configuration of fmset” support for time setting/checking and configuration of timing parameterstiming parameters

New display of timing parameters and statusNew display of timing parameters and statusMark 5B should be controlled by the “dimino” version of the Mark 5B should be controlled by the “dimino” version of the Mark5A program, only “dimino” is officially supported by FSMark5A program, only “dimino” is officially supported by FSEvery time “dimino” is restarted, the operator should visit “fmset” Every time “dimino” is restarted, the operator should visit “fmset” to verify/set time. No change is needed if time is okayto verify/set time. No change is needed if time is okay

In addition if Mark 5B is rebooted (hard or soft), the “s” In addition if Mark 5B is rebooted (hard or soft), the “s” command must be used in “fmset” to “synch” before command must be used in “fmset” to “synch” before verifying/setting the timeverifying/setting the time

Some command log output format changes to agree with Some command log output format changes to agree with “dimino” forms of device commands“dimino” forms of device commandsDocumentation on using Mark 5B with FS in Documentation on using Mark 5B with FS in /usr2/fs/misc/mk5b_ops.txt/usr2/fs/misc/mk5b_ops.txt

Mark 5 Sampler Module SupportMark 5 Sampler Module Support

Module is a replacement for Mark IV formatter, plugs Module is a replacement for Mark IV formatter, plugs into slot, but produces VSI-H output for, e.g., Mark 5B into slot, but produces VSI-H output for, e.g., Mark 5B recorderrecorder

New “vsi4” command to control/monitor VSI4 board in New “vsi4” command to control/monitor VSI4 board in Mark 5 Sampler moduleMark 5 Sampler module

Tsys/tpi features support device selection based on Tsys/tpi features support device selection based on VSI4 bit stream selections and mark 5B recorder bit VSI4 bit stream selections and mark 5B recorder bit mask, i.e., analogous to Mark IV, VLBA4 supportmask, i.e., analogous to Mark IV, VLBA4 support

Documentation on using Mark 5 Sample modlue with Documentation on using Mark 5 Sample modlue with FS in also in FS in also in /usr2/fs/misc/mk5b_ops.txt/usr2/fs/misc/mk5b_ops.txt

FS Linux 6FS Linux 6

FS Linux 6 Distribution now availableFS Linux 6 Distribution now availableBased on Debian “Sarge”Based on Debian “Sarge”Uses RAID1 for more robust operations with two disksUses RAID1 for more robust operations with two disksBack-up scheme with three disks rotates disks periodicallyBack-up scheme with three disks rotates disks periodicallyClean installClean installUpgrading path from FS Linux 5 (woody) will be to do a Upgrading path from FS Linux 5 (woody) will be to do a clean install and then copy /usr2 partition, etc. to new clean install and then copy /usr2 partition, etc. to new systemsystem

Not fully documented yetNot fully documented yetStill supported with security patchesStill supported with security patches

Now looking toward FS Linux 7, based on “etch”Now looking toward FS Linux 7, based on “etch”GPIB driver issues need to be resolvedGPIB driver issues need to be resolved

Router/FirewallRouter/FirewallInexpensive, <US$100Inexpensive, <US$100Should be used with older, no longer supported distributions, Should be used with older, no longer supported distributions, including FS Linux 5including FS Linux 5

Longer term development items ILonger term development items I

DBBC/DBE supportDBBC/DBE supportDocumentation Update, wiki for documentation, operations discussion, Documentation Update, wiki for documentation, operations discussion, bug reportsbug reportsImprove prediction of disk pack change timesImprove prediction of disk pack change timesPointing software clean-upPointing software clean-up

Eliminate redundancies in pointing configuration information by Eliminate redundancies in pointing configuration information by introducing a source coordinate database file and reorganizing introducing a source coordinate database file and reorganizing point.prc and ctlpo.ctl (aquir control file).point.prc and ctlpo.ctl (aquir control file).Documentation clean-up to reflect new procedures and utilitiesDocumentation clean-up to reflect new procedures and utilities

Improved TsysImproved TsysMost items completedMost items completedPost processing program to generate AIPS (ANTAB) format TSYS Post processing program to generate AIPS (ANTAB) format TSYS files from Cormac Reynoldsfiles from Cormac ReynoldsPeriodic firing of calibration diode with flagging neededPeriodic firing of calibration diode with flagging needed

Convert from fort77/f2c to g77Convert from fort77/f2c to g77Will allow use of source level debuggerWill allow use of source level debuggerMust maintain compatibility with f2c for older distributionsMust maintain compatibility with f2c for older distributions

Longer term development items IILonger term development items II

TNX (“Thanks”) command expansionTNX (“Thanks”) command expansionThis command currently provides a syntax to eliminate the display This command currently provides a syntax to eliminate the display of errors that the operator knows can’t be fixed and should be of errors that the operator knows can’t be fixed and should be ignored ignored Will be extended to allow different error messages with the same Will be extended to allow different error messages with the same number and two letter code to be distinguishednumber and two letter code to be distinguishedWill not allow an error that has not occurred to be masked off.Will not allow an error that has not occurred to be masked off.

FSVUEFSVUEIntegrated X client (Tcl/Tk) FS Operator Interface for FSIntegrated X client (Tcl/Tk) FS Operator Interface for FSSecond iteration now, uses client-server modelSecond iteration now, uses client-server modelAllows multiple “Operator Input/Log Display” consoles for remote Allows multiple “Operator Input/Log Display” consoles for remote operationoperationInitially add-on, eventually main interfaceInitially add-on, eventually main interfaceIncludes log display (scrolling doesn’t jump on new input) and Includes log display (scrolling doesn’t jump on new input) and operator input windowsoperator input windowsButtons to allow you to examine logs, help, and run various utilities: Buttons to allow you to examine logs, help, and run various utilities: monit, logpl, msg, and others.monit, logpl, msg, and others.

Longer term development items IIILonger term development items III

Band changesBand changesBand configuration procedures added to set-up by DRUDG.Band configuration procedures added to set-up by DRUDG.

The DRUDG control file will be expanded to include a table of station The DRUDG control file will be expanded to include a table of station defined procedures that can be used to set-up local station equipment defined procedures that can be used to set-up local station equipment for a band. These procedures can also be used manually by the for a band. These procedures can also be used manually by the operator as needed. Note that use of the existing SAVE_FILE operator as needed. Note that use of the existing SAVE_FILE command can be used in these procedures and INITI to recover the command can be used in these procedures and INITI to recover the receiver set-up between FS terminations and restarts.receiver set-up between FS terminations and restarts.

Add a command LOCONFIG.Add a command LOCONFIG.This will be used after the LO= commands in the IFD set-up procedure. This will be used after the LO= commands in the IFD set-up procedure. This can be used as trigger to start configuring the Los, if doing so in This can be used as trigger to start configuring the Los, if doing so in each individual LO= command might cause problems. By default, each individual LO= command might cause problems. By default, LOCONFIG will be a NO-OP, but it can be defined locally and do LOCONFIG will be a NO-OP, but it can be defined locally and do whatever is necessary for LO configuration in one step.whatever is necessary for LO configuration in one step.

CALON and CALOFF SNAP variables.CALON and CALOFF SNAP variables.This intended to deal with stations that have different cal control This intended to deal with stations that have different cal control methods for different bands. The idea is that variables will be methods for different bands. The idea is that variables will be introduced into SNAP, specifically two: CALON and CALOFF. These introduced into SNAP, specifically two: CALON and CALOFF. These can be defined by the band set-up procedures described above and can be defined by the band set-up procedures described above and used as $CALON and $CALOFF in procedures when the noise diode used as $CALON and $CALOFF in procedures when the noise diode needs to be controlled.needs to be controlled.

Additional Future Items IAdditional Future Items I

IF patching automation for Mark IV racksIF patching automation for Mark IV racks

EVN has hardware design, but not implemented in EVN has hardware design, but not implemented in field yet. We will need one relatively simple SNAP field yet. We will need one relatively simple SNAP command to support it:command to support it:

A special version of PATCH and a way to control which A special version of PATCH and a way to control which version is used.version is used.

Mark IV decoder supportMark IV decoder support

This is beyond the phase-cal monitoring This is beyond the phase-cal monitoring mentioned above, mainly a few SNAP commands mentioned above, mainly a few SNAP commands to control the decoder manually. Most of the effort to control the decoder manually. Most of the effort here is actually divining what is needed and here is actually divining what is needed and developing documentationdeveloping documentation

Additional Future Items IIAdditional Future Items II

Phase-cal control monitoring from VEX schedulesPhase-cal control monitoring from VEX schedules

Mark IV decoder support already plannedMark IV decoder support already planned

AIPS format file generated from post-processingAIPS format file generated from post-processing

Support for VLBA digital switch boardSupport for VLBA digital switch board