Andor Guider Computer Setup

Bootable USB drive

1. Startup "diskutil" (macOS)
   format USB drive as "MS-DOS (FAT)"
2. Download the "CentOS" ISO ( https://www.centos.org/download/ )
   NUC: "DVD ISO" (4.6 GB)
   Minnow: "Minimal" ISO (0.84 GB)
   Note: The "DVD ISO" can be used to install the "Minimal" version on the MinnowBoard; there is no need to keep two USB drives.
3. Create a bootable USB drive via Etcher ( https://etcher.io/ )

   

MinnowBoard Setup

Requirements:

• 8+GB microSD card; the ("Minimal") installation takes about 2 GB.
• During installation: USB hub (top port) to accomodate keyboard, mouse and the USB install media (bottom port).

1. Find the MAC-Address
2. Install CentOS-7 ("Minimal")
3. Update and install additional packages
4. Install the Andor Driver
5. Install the Andor Server

1) Find the MAC-Address

1. Boot into the BIOS (press "F2" after power-up)

   

2. Select Device Manager
3. Select Network Device List

2) Install CentOS ("Minimal") -- no X11

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the MinnowBoard, power it up and press "F2"
2. Select "Boot Manager" and then "EFI USB Device"
3. Select Test this media & and install CentOS 7
4. Select English (United States)
5. Set the timezone: "Los Angeles" or "Santiago" -- Network time "Off"
6. Software Selection: "Minimal"
7. Installation Destination:
   Select "I would like to make additional space available" when re-using a microSD card and
   Select "Delete All" if over-writing an existing installation.
8. Network: "on", set hostname "minnowXX"
9. Click on "Begin Installation" (~40 minutes)
10. Root: password XXXXXXX
11. User: "andor", password: same as 'root' (+"Admin" privileges)
12. After installation: reboot, remove USB
13. Wait for "dracut/gzip" process (top/load < 0.05)
14. Run "nmtui" to enable the ethernet interface (if necessary)
    enable auto connect for interface enp3s0
    https://lintut.com/how-to-setup-network-after-rhelcentos-7-minimal-installation/

3) Update and install additional packages

1. sudo yum update -y (~85 minutes)
2. reboot to start the latest kernel
3. sudo yum install epel-release -y
4. sudo yum groupinstall "Development Tools" -y (~28 minutes)
5. sudo yum install kernel-devel -y (~6 minutes)
6. sudo yum install usbutils -y
7. sudo yum install ntpdate -y
   systemctl start ntpdate
   systemctl enable ntpdate
   Note: use ntpd once ntpdate disappears.
8. sudo -e /etc/anacrontab
   --> START_HOURS_RANGE=9-15
9. Disable the firewall to allow incoming connections
   systemctl stop firewalld
   systemctl disable firewalld

4) Install the Andor Driver

TODO: I am not sure if I can legally put a link to the Andor driver here.

1. sudo cp andor-sdk3-3.13.30034.0.tgz /usr/local
2. cd /usr/local
3. sudo tar xf andor-sdk3-3.13.30034.0.tgz
4. cd andor
   Check the kernel release:
5. uname -r
   ensure that the output of "uname -r" is in /usr/src/kernels
6. sudo ./install_andor
   answer y,n to the questions (we don't use the bitflow driver)
   make sure that there are no error messages during the installation since the script will always print "installation successful".
7. ldconfig -p | grep usb
   should show libusb (>= v1.0) and libatusb (>= v3.13)

   [andor@minnow03 andor]$ ldconfig -p | grep usb
           libusb-1.0.so.0 (libc6,x86-64) => /lib64/libusb-1.0.so.0
           libatusb_libusb10.so.3.13.30034.0 (libc6,x86-64) => /usr/local/lib/libatusb_libusb10.so.3.13.30034.0
           libatusb_libusb10.so (libc6,x86-64) => /usr/local/lib/libatusb_libusb10.so
   

5) Install the Andor Server

1. copy andor-vvvv.tar.gz into the directory $HOME/Andor
2. tar xf andor-vvvv.tar
3. make andorserver
4. create /etc/systemd/system/andor.service
   sudo cp andor.service /etc/systemd/system/
   systemctl daemon-reload
   systemctl start andor
   systemctl status andor
   systemctl enable andor

NUC Setup

Steps:

1. Install CentOS-7 ("DVD")
2. Update and install additional packages
3. Install CXT (X11 Toolkit)
4. Install Andor software (AndorGUI and AndorServer/Driver for the "hybrid" version)
5. Integration into the Magellan Environment

1) Install CentOS-7 (DVD-Distribution)

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the NUC, power it up and press "F10"
   
2. Select USB
   
3. Select Test this media & and install CentOS 7
   
4. Select English (United States)
   
5. Date & Time: Set the timezone "Los Angeles" or "Santiago" -- Network time "On"
   
6. Installation Destination:
   Select "I would like to make additional space available" and
   Select "Delete All" if over-writing an existing installation.
   
7. Software Selection: "Development Workstation" + "Development Tools" + "Platform Development"
   
8. Network: "on", set hostname "nucXX"
9. Click on "Begin Installation"
   
10. Root: password XXXXXXX
11. User: "andor", password: same as 'root' (+"Admin" privileges)
12. After installation: reboot, remove USB

1. Accept license
2. Set hostname/network (if not done earlier)
3. Set language: English
4. Typing: English/US

   

5. Disable Wi-Fi

   

6. Disable Location Services
7. Skip "Accounts Setup"

2) Update and install additional packages

1. sudo yum update -y
2. sudo yum install epel-release -y
3. sudo yum groupinstall "MATE Desktop" -y
4. logout and login

   

5. Select the MATE desktop
6. Delete the bottom Panel (rightClick--delete)
7. Add "Window List" to the top Panel (rightClick--AddToPanel--WindowList)
8. sudo yum install xorg-x11-fonts-75dpi -y

3) Install CXT (X11 Toolkit)

1. copy cxt.tar.gz into the directory $HOME
2. tar xf cxt.tar.gz
3. cd CXT
4. make
5. ln -s libcxt.a libcxt64.a

4a) Install the Andor Driver

TODO: I am not sure if I can legally put a link to the Andor driver here.

1. sudo cp andor-sdk3-3.13.30034.0.tgz /usr/local
2. cd /usr/local
3. sudo tar xf andor-sdk3-3.13.30034.0.tgz
4. cd andor
   Check the kernel release:
5. uname -r
   ensure that the output of "uname -r" is in /usr/src/kernels (3.10.0-862.11.6.el7.x86_64)
6. sudo ./install_andor
   answer y,n to the questions (we don't use the bitflow driver)
   make sure that there are no error messages during the installation since the script will always print "installation successful".
7. ldconfig -p | grep usb
   should show libusb (>= v1.0) and libatusb (>= v3.13)

   [andor@minnow03 andor]$ ldconfig -p | grep usb
           libusb-1.0.so.0 (libc6,x86-64) => /lib64/libusb-1.0.so.0
           libatusb_libusb10.so.3.13.30034.0 (libc6,x86-64) => /usr/local/lib/libatusb_libusb10.so.3.13.30034.0
           libatusb_libusb10.so (libc6,x86-64) => /usr/local/lib/libatusb_libusb10.so
   

4b) Install AndorGUI/Server

1. copy andor-vvvv.tar.gz into the directory $HOME/Andor
2. tar xf andor-vvvv.tar.gz
3. cd src-vvvv
4. make andor
5. cd $HOME
6. ln -s Andor/src-vvvv/andorgui
7. ln -s Andor/src-vvvv/andorserver

8. open the firewall on port 52211
   select on the main menu: System--Administration--Firewall
   then press "+Add" and enter the port number range
   
   If you changed the Permanent configuration -- please reboot
   If you changed the Runtime configuration -- select Options and then Runtime To Permanent

9. add the andorserver as a systemd service:
   create /etc/systemd/system/andor.service
   sudo cp andor.service /etc/systemd/system/
   systemctl daemon-reload
   systemctl start andor
   systemctl status andor
   systemctl enable andor

5) Integration into the Magellan Environment

1. Update the DHCP server at LCO to provide an IP number to the new NUC.
   It is necssary to provide the same number each time the NUC boots, since some components of the Magellan control system (eg. TCSIS) rely on whitelists of IP numbers to enable access it their services.
2. Update the whitelist at the TCSIS to allow the NUC to receive status information and send telescope offsets.