startisp / startrtd / startobssys Commands


This page is part of the ING manual WHT-INGRID-2: INGRID IMPB Software Operations Manual


 
Usage: startobssys ["-interactive"]
startisp ["-interactive"]
startrtd ["-interactive"]
 
Category: System Startup, Shutdown and Help
Description: These commands startup the entire IMPB Observing System or it's individual components.

The startobssys command starts up everything. This is the only command that is normally required. Currently (10/11/00) there are only two components that require specific initialisation:  the Instrument Support Platform (ISP) and the Real Time Display (RTD). Executing startobssys is equivalent to executing startisp and startrtd in turn.

The startisp command starts up the Instrument Support Platform (ISP). This is the component provided for communicating with the INGRID instrument and the Telescope Control System (TCS). In starting up the ISP the following actions are currently (10/11/00) performed:

  • the TCS link is initialised

    • The TCS runs on a separate computer to that which hosts the Instrument Support Platform. To communicate with it the observing system needs to start up a special messaging system known as DRAMA and to perform some simple checks.
     
  • the SDSU Controller is initialised

    • This involves resetting the controller, downloading it's application software, setting the temperature servo demand temperature and sending commands to power up the camera electronics.
     
  • the EPICS Controller is initialised

    • This involves checking whether the instrument need datuming and if necessary datuming them.
The startrtd command starts up the Real Time Display (RTD). This involves starting up the display server program (currently 10/11/00 ximtool) followed by starting up the RTD Control Panel (an application which scans the observation data areas for the arrival of new ingrid files).

All of the above commands accept the "-interactive" command line switch which causes the system to enter into a dialog with the user, facilitating finer control over which subsystems are initialised. 

Normally, interaction with the user is not required: the observing system can be brought up automatically. However, the facility proves useful when certain components of the instrument or telescope are offline or to reinitialise a system where one component has failed.

Note: subject to some limitations the Observing System can be operated in the absence of the EPICS Controller or when the TCS is offline. Obviously the SDSU Controller is always required for any commands that involve acquiring data.
 
Arguments:  "-interactive"  is optional, but if present indicates that the system should enter into an interactive dialog with the user to determine which components of the Observing System are to be initialised.
Examples: startisp - start up the Instrument Support Platform

startobssys -interactive -start up the entire observing system, but prompt for the components which are to be initialised.