CAMAC help: Using CAMTEST at the WHT

   If the TCS stops updating the info display, one possible
cause is a problem with CAMAC. The following information
helps diagnose the problem.

   CAMTEST is the CAMac TEST utility.

   To run camtest (from osadisplay2 or 1)

   telnet lpas4        (or use the lpas4 ikon on osadisplay2)

   username: engineer

   password (I've sent this separately to TOs).

   At the options prompt, type CAMTEST 

Example session:

 Welcome to OpenVMS (TM) Alpha Operating System, Version V7.3-2 

Username: engineer
Password:
    Last interactive login on Wednesday,  8-JAN-2014 15:20:29.52
    Last non-interactive login on Wednesday,  8-JAN-2014 15:22:08.99
 
   CONTROL SYSTEM Option> CAMTEST ENGINEERING MENU - USE WITH CARE
 
 
  Please enter an option -
 
      GSEXAM  -  Run GSEXAM
 
     CAMTEST  -  Run the CAMAC test program
 
        EXIT  -  Log out

Option> CAMTEST
Drama version 1_6 enabled.
The X client is LPAS4
The X server is osadisplay1.ing.iac.es a remote X terminal or computer connected
 via TCP/IP.

A new window opens with the CAMTEST> prompt

1) Check if CAMAC is working

CAMTEST> INPUT TIME.CAM
B C  N  A        F       Write data         Read data  Q

0 0 10  0        0         00000000          00154440  1

   You should see the time (00hhmmss) under read data. The value under
Q should be one. If you see 0 this means no response.

   If the Q response is 0, then CAMAC from the alpha is hung. TCSEXIT
from TCS, EXIT from CAMTEST. Shutdown the alpha. On the first attempt do not
reset (C/Z) or power cycle CAMAC crates, since it's best to try to
identify the fault. On subsequent the attempts power cycle all the crates
(see appendix III for details). Then reboot the alpha and perform the test in 1.

   If the Q response is 1 you should see the time read from CAMAC.


2) Check the modules in each crate in turn.

   First make sure the telescope is in engineering mode.
   TCSEXIT from the TCS.

   CAMTEST> INPUT SYSTEM.CAM

   There should be four CAMAC transactions. All should have
   Q repsonse of 1.

   CAMTEST> INPUT CRATE1.CAM

   There should be n CAMAC transactions. Again all should have
   Q response as 1.

   CAMTEST> INPUT CRATE2.CAM

   There should be n CAMAC transactions. Again all should have
   Q response as 1.

   CAMTEST> INPUT CRATE3.CAM

   There should be n CAMAC transactions. Again all should have
   Q response as 1.

   If all of the Q responses are 1, then CAMAC is working.
EXIT camtest and restart the TCS.


3) Module(s) Q reponse is 0

      Note the B C N of the first module to respond with Q = 0.
   B means Branch, C means crate, N is the module number within
   the crate.

      Consider changing the module. Put the crate off line
   Power off the crate, replace the module, power on the
   crate and put on line.

      Then reboot the Alpha and repeat tests from 1) above.

4) CAMTEST hangs

     It's possible that the CAMAC read/write will hang causing
   CAMTEST to hang.

   In this case try to work out which transaction hung.
   Count the number of transactions that worked and compare
   to the responses for a successful check. (See below).

   This should allow you to work out which module is at fault.

   If no modules in a crate responded, it could be a branch
   coupler or crate controller failure.

I) Spare CAMAC modules

   There are spare modules in WHT control room in the
green cabinet behind the blue cabinets that contain
the branch crates.

   In the case of a faulty crate controller (A2) module
the crate address must be set.

 
II) Example responses
      
a) Example of good responses for SYSTEM crate

B C  N  A        F          Write data      Read data  Q

0 0  8  0        0           0000000000    0000000200  1
0 0  8 15       27           0000000000    0000000000  1
0 0 10  0        0           0000000000    0001254935  1
0 0 11  0        0           0000000000    0000000135  1
      
b) Example of good responses for crate 1

B C  N  A        F           Write data     Read data  Q

6 1  3  0        0           0000000000    0000065480  1
6 1  5  0        0           0000000000    0000065385  1
6 1  7  0        0           0000000000    0000000000  1
6 1  8  0        0           0000000000    0000046873  1
6 1  9  0       16           0000080005    0000080005  1
6 1  9  1       16           0000080005    0000080005  1
6 1 10  0       16           0000080005    0000080005  1
6 1 10  1       16           0000080005    0000080005  1
6 1 11  0        0           0000000000    0008371468  1
6 1 12  0        0           0000000000    0000065021  1
6 1 13  0        0           0000000000    0000064965  1
6 1 14  0        0           0000000000    0000012451  1
6 1 15  0        0           0000000000    0000065104  1

c) Example of good responses for crate 2

B C  N  A        F           Write data     Read data  Q

6 2  3  0        0           0000000000    0000059992  1
6 2  4  1        0           0000000000    0000000000  1
6 2  7  0       16           0000800005    0000800005  1
6 2  7  0       16           0000800005    0000800005  1
6 2  9  0        0           0000000000    0001237381  1
6 2 11  0        0           0000000000    0000066215  1
6 2 14  0        0           0000000000    0002901038  1
6 2 14  1        0           0000000000    0002279048  1
6 2 17  0        0           0000000000    0000239864  1
6 2 19  0        0           0000000000    0000000000  1
6 2 21  0        0           0000000000    0000206225  1

       
d) Example of good responses for crate 3

6 3  2  1       16           0000001280    0000001280  1
6 3  4  1        0           0000000000    0000000609  1
6 3  5  0        0           0000000000    0000000067  1
6 3  6  0        0           0000000000    0000525824  1
6 3  6  1        0           0000000000    0002031616  1
6 3  8  0       16           0000000001    0000000001  1
6 3  9  1        0           0000000000    0000000096  1
6 3 10  0        0           0000000000    0000000007  1
6 3 11  4        0           0000000000    0000001494  1
6 3 12 14        0           0000000000    0008390655  1

III) Power cycling CAMAC at WHT and changing the branch coupler

• Close the TCS session, EXIT any CAMTEST session.
  
• Shut down the controlling computer down using shut account. Power it off.
  
• On each CAMAC crate in the system switch off line and power off. Start with the System crate, then the Marconi, then the Nasmyth and finally the Clip centre. Take it off line and then turn the power switch off.
• Leave the system crate off for at least 1 minute. At this time you may change the branch coupler BR-CPR-3 in the system crate for the spare in the green cabinet.
• Turn each crate back on, starting with the Clip Centre, then Nasmyth, then Marconi and finally the System crate.  Power on each crate in turn, clear/zero or branch initialise (in case of the System crate) and put back on line.
• In the System crate on the HYTEC 1386 module: Clear and Zero.
• Power on the system computer and let it boot.
• Wait for the system computer to be fully up.
• Start CAMTEST and check the modules as in section 1 and 2 above.
  
• Start the TCS session and check.

Further information about CAMAC at WHT

    John Mills' WHT CAMAC manual has a lot of detailed information.
See the Intranet / Electronics Group Home Page.

    There is further information in the TCS web pages under
troubleshooting
 
                                         Frank Gribbin
                                         14 Jan 2014
                                         Version 1.1