APPENDIX B

Troubleshooting the system

Symptom: All of the drives are not present on the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer.

Solution:

  1. On the NI2MASS / SI2MASS press ENTER several times to finish the script.
  2. At the command prompt, turn the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer off, wait 20 seconds, then turn the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer on.
  3. Return to step 25 and proceed from there.
  4. If this doesn't work, turn off the NI2MASS / SI2MASS CPU, DLT Tape Drive, DataSilo Hard drives in that order, then power up in the reverse order.
  5. Return to step 25 and proceed from there.
  6. If this still doesn't work, Call UMASS (Eric Howard).


Symptom: LFI Control/Data Interface Frame Buffer lights are not working correctly OR The real time display 'pix values' on the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer are not correct.('pix=-nan' readout)

Solution:

  1. Try pressing the reset button to see if this solves the problem.
  2. If not, exit out of the real time display on the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer by pressing the Esc key to go back to the main 'script menu'.
  3. Execute a the camboot.sct (option #9).
  4. If this still doesn't work, Call UMASS (Eric Howard or Mike Skrutskie).


 Symptom: No stars visible on the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer's real time display.

Solution:

  1. Is the Background subtract off on NI2MASS / SI2MASS? Turn it on. ('X' key)
  2. Is the camera shutter closed? Open it.
  3. Has the camera timed out? See camera timeout.
  4. Are the 'pix =' numbers changing on the NI2MASS / SI2MASS real time display? See camera timeout.
  5. It the primary mirror cover open? If not, on the TCS computer move to the menu option called Motion and press the ENTER key. Then highlight the Mirror Open and press ENTER to open/close the mirror covers.
  6. Is the dome tracking with the telescope? If not, on the TCS computer move to the menu option called Motion and simultaneously press the ALT and D key.
  7. Is the dome fully open? Open it.
  8. If the problem seems to be with the camera try executing the camboot.sct on NI2MASS / SI2MASS.
  9. If none of these work, Call UMASS (Eric Howard).


Symptom: Camera timeout displayed on NI2MASS / SI2MASS real time display

Solution:

  1. Abort the scan on the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer by pressing the A key to go back to the 'remote mode prompt'.
  2. In the scheduler window on the N2MASS / S2MASS computer (move the highlight bar if necessary to the 'failed' scan) press the H key to select the scan again. Press the S key, on the scheduler, to start the scan again.
    Record the camera timeout time in the observers log.
  3. If this doesn't work, Try running the camboot.sct on the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer.
  4. If this fails call UMASS (Eric Howard or Mike Skrutskie).


 Symptom: Large error signal on the oscilloscope; exceeds 4 squares total height or the RA or DEC is flashing RED on the TCS computer

Solution:

  1. If it exceeds these values check that the oscilloscope settings are correct Appendix G
  2. If the oscilloscope settings are correct, look for slippage on the real time display on the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer.
  3. Check if the RA or DEC on the flashing on the TCS computer, indicating a slippage in the axis.
  4. If the slippage is only momentarily present, note it in the observers log (include telescope RA, Dec and HA).
  5. If the slippage is excessive call UMASS (Eric Howard or Rae Stiening).


Symptom: N2MASS / S2MASS computer crashes during observing:

Solution:

  1. Halt the script on NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer by pressing the ESC key and then the A key (abort).
  2. Reboot the N2MASS / S2MASS computer using the CTRL-ALT-DEL keys or press the RESET Button on the CPU. The system should automatically boot to a Linux prompt in about a minute, if not try powering the system down, waiting 20 seconds, and then powering the system up.
    3.

    On the N2MASS / S2MASS computer

  3. Log in and start X windows again
  4. Start a new xterm window:

    5. xterm -fn 10x20 -geometry 80x35+100+10 -fg "light blue" -bg black &

  5. In the new xterm window just opened, change to the log files directory by typing: cd logs
  6. The old log should have been saved with the filename #nlog.xxx# where "xxx" is the current night number. Copy this file to the nights working file and then start editing it by typing:

    7. cp #nlog.xxx# nlog.xxx
    emacs nlog.xxx &

  7. Change to the scheduler directory by typing: cd /home/ops/scheduler
  8. Restart the scheduler by typing: sked -ops
  9. On the scheduler replan the night by pressing the R key.
  10. On the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer, in the script menu, select auto_mode.sct (option #1) by entering the 1 key on the keyboard.
  11. On the N2MASS / S2MASS computers scheduler window press the M key and then the A key.
  12. On the N2MASS / S2MASS computers scheduler window move the highlight bar to the failed scan and press the H key and then the S key to resume taking data.


 Symptom: NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer crashes during observing:

Solution:

  1. Halt the scheduler on N2MASS / S2MASS computer
  2. Reboot the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer using the CTRL-ALT-DEL keys or press the RESET Button on the CPU.
  3. At the LILO prompt type: dos
  4. At the dos prompt type chkpurge to verify all drives are present (D thru O).
    DO NOT ISSUE A PURGE COMMAND!
  5. At the dos prompt type: script
  6. Choose the 'view.sct' (option #7) to verify that the weather/position data is being read correctly (see NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer not receiving weather/position data from TCS in this appendix if data not present.).
  7. In the script menu select auto_mode.sct (option #1) by entering the 1 key on the keyboard.
  8. On the N2MASS / S2MASS computers scheduler window press the M key and then the A key.
  9. On the N2MASS / S2MASS computers scheduler window move the highlight bar to the failed scan and press the H key and then the S key to resume taking data.
  10. Press the 7 key on the NI2MASS /SI2MASS computer.


Symptom: NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer not receiving weather/position data from TCS

Solution:

  1. On the NI2MASS / SI2MASS computer
    2. execute the view.sct (option #7)
  2. If the weather and/or position (RA, DEC) data are missing (all blank or zero) there is a problem with the communication to the TCS.
  3. Exit out of the script program (option #0) on NI2MASS / SI2MASS and restart it. Now see if the data is present using the view.sct this time.
  4. If the data still isn't present then exit out of the script program (option #0) on NI2MASS / SI2MASS and reboot the computer. (You will need to do a chkpurge (NOT PURGE!) again to be sure all the drive are present on the system). Then start the script program up again and see if the data is present using the view.sct this time.
  5. If neither of these solutions work, call UMASS.
    6.


Symptom: Power Failure in the observatory

Solution:

If there is a failure of commercial power on the mountain, backup up generators should start that will provide power for the mountain (after a period of power interruption). These backup generators have been known to fail. The UPS will continue to run the computers for up to 1 hr without monitors, but may run down before this point. The computers should be shutdown gracefully before this point.

If the power goes down and does not come back up after a few minutes the computers should be shut down. For N2MASS / S2MASS log out of X-windows, log out of the computer and then press the CTRL-ALT-DEL keys simultaneously. Now power down the computer and the monitor. For ni2mass, exit script, and then power down the computer and monitor.

Symptom: Focus value on TCS is cycling between two values

Solution: Call UMASS (Eric Howard)

Symptom: Dome is incorrectly positioned so that the power cord to operate the control will not reach.

Solution:

  • Note: The dome should automatically home itself during the startup sequence. If this is not the case, try rebooting the TCS computer and restarting the startup sequence. If this fails call UMASS.

  • If the dome needs to be manually moved for some reason (snow, etc.):
  • Turn the dome rotation controller power off.
  • Turn the dome speed dial setting to zero.
  • Switch the dome control box from computer control to lesson (manual operate).
  • Turn the dome rotation controller power on.
  • Increase the dome speed dial to start the dome rotating, set to zero (stop) when the dome is in the desired position.
  • Turn the dome rotation controller power off.
  • Set the dome control box from lesson back to computer control.
  • Set the dome speed dial setting to 100 (max).
    •  Symptom: The tape drive does not release the tape from the drive or resistance is felt when trying to remove the tape..

    Solution:

    DON'T FORCE THE TAPE IN OR OUT OF THE DRIVE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

    1. Push the tape back into the drive.
    2. Close the tape drive door.
    3. Allow the drive to recognize the tape.
    4. Press the unload button again and wait for the green "operate handle" light to come on.
    5. Lift the handle.
    6. Try removing the tape again.
    7. If the above procedure does not work, call UMASS (Eric Howard) for further instructions.
      8.

      Important phone numbers:

      UMASS

      Eric Howard - General
      (413) 545-3014 (wk) Mass.
      (413) 582-0672 (hm) Mass.
      ehwd@kutath.phast.umass.edu

      John Giziz - General
      (413) 545-3014 (wk) Mass.
      (413) 549-2668 (hm) Mass.
      gizis@stratford.phast.umass.edu

      Mike Skrutskie - Camera
      (413) 545-367-2790 (wk) Mass.
      (413) 367-2790 (hm) Mass.
      skrutski@n2mass.sao.arizona.edu

      Rae Stiening - Telescope,Computers
      (413) 545-5006 (wk) Mass.
      (413) 253-3295 (hm) Mass. Before 11PM Eastern or later if emergency
      stiening@phast.umass.edu

      N2MASS/FLWO

      N2MASS Control room
      (520) 670-5779 Arizona
      ops@n2mass.sao.arizona.edu

      Jack Dembicky - General
      (520) 408-1074 (hm) Arizona
      (520) 670-5779 (wk) dembicky@sparky.sao.arizona.edu

      Ed Bennett
      (520) 670-5779 (wk)

      Karen Myres - FLWO Facilities Mgr.
      (520) 670-5703 (wk) Arizona
      (520) 975-7501 (cell) (520) 648-0194 (after hours)

      FLWO Mountain Support
      (520) 670-5201 (wk) Arizona

      FLWO Ridge Dorm
      (520) 670-6755 Arizona

      S2MASS/Chile

      S2MASS Control room Chile

      IPAC

      Roc Cutri - IPAC
      (626) 397-7020 (wk) Calif.

      Appendix B

      Version 2.3 - October 4, 1998
      Version 2.4 - January 8, 1999