rpi-daq

Software for taking data from one hexaboard module with four SKIROC2_CMS chips, using the test stand board.

Two main acquisition programs:

• run_local.py for local debugging.
• daq-zmq_client.py, that spawns a server over the network in the device and processes data off-device. This package then needs to be installed in both machines, though only the python part in the client.

Two main sources of configuration:

• yaml file
• command line options

More details on the SKIROC2_CMS readout chip configuration can be found here and here.

Installation

See here to install Raspbian on a Pi 3.

Then:

cd $HOME
git clone https://github.com/CMS-HGCAL/rpi-daq
cd rpi-daq
make packages

The following step is only needed in the server or for local running (it is not needed for the client):

make

Finally, a local test run with charge injection:

make testrun

Another example of a local acquisition:

python run_local.py --showRawData --dataNotSaved

An example of client and server running in the same machine

python daq-zmq-client.py -e

Development

Code structure

• rpi_daq.py: configures the chips and reads events.

• src/gpiohb.c: utilities for low-level communication with the hexaboard; uses the bcm2835 library.

• unpacker.py: parses (and compresses) raw data.

• skiroc2cms_bit_string.py: utilities for configuration of the readout chips.

• run_local.py: simple local running application.

• daq-zmq-{client,server}.py: full-fledged system with data processing offloaded to client side.

Ideas for contributions

• 🚀 Optimize timing of gpiohb.c I/O routines.
• 💡 Develop an ASUS Tinker Board version.
• ➕ Add functionality to skiroc2cms_bit_string.py.
• 🔒 Improve the client-server usage, e.g., streamlining ssh sessions (no password, public key).

Contributing

• Fork this project,
• Clone your repository when installing,
• Your magic happens here,
• Push to your repository, and
• Submit pull requests.

Installing OS on device

Raspberry Pi 3 from scratch

• Download Raspbian with desktop.
• Use Etcher to write the image to the SD card.
• Boot the device and connect a screen, keyboard, and mouse.
• Connect device to network using desktop tools.
  When using wired and wireless network, editing /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf may be needed to sort out priorities. See also this.
• Register device to network, including both wired and wireless MAC addresses that can be obtained using ifconfig.
• Update the system:

  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get --yes dist-upgrade
  sudo apt-get clean
  sudo apt --yes autoremove
  sudo rpi-update

• sudo reboot
• Change pi user password using passwd.
• Enable VNC in pi customization GUI from Desktop menu → Preferences → Raspberry Pi Configuration → Interfaces → VNC: Enabled.

• Install some goodies:

  sudo apt-get --yes install emacs25 htop iotop nmap liquidprompt ipython elpa-markdown-mode yaml-mode
  liquidprompt_activate

• Free up some space:

   sudo apt-get --yes purge wolfram-engine libreoffice*
   sudo apt-get clean
   sudo apt-get --yes autoremove

🚧 ASUS Tinker Board from scratch

• Download TinkerOS-Debian image from the downloads section in the Tinker Board page.
• Use Etcher to write the image to the SD card.
• Default user and password are linaro:linaro. Change it.
• Register device to network, including both wired and wireless MAC addresses that can be obtained using ifconfig.
• Update the system:

  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get --yes dist-upgrade
  sudo apt-get clean
  sudo apt --yes autoremove

• Install some goodies:

  sudo apt-get --yes install emacs25 htop iotop nmap liquidprompt ipython elpa-markdown-mode yaml-mode git tree
  liquidprompt_activate
  echo heartbeat | sudo tee /sys/class/leds/led1-led/trigger

• Setup the C GPIO API (see also the Tinker Board page). Basically:

  cd $HOME
  git clone http://github.com/TinkerBoard/gpio_lib_c.git
  cd gpio_lib_c/
  sudo ./build
  gpio -v
  gpio readall

• Set up VNC (sudo tinker-config allows to start VNC, but not to set it up as a deamon):

  # From https://tinkerboarding.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Software#Remote_access
  sudo apt-get --yes install x11vnc
  echo "@x11vnc -forever -noxrecord" >> ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE/autostart
  sudo service lightdm restart