Fundamentals¶
The DBBC3 package provides a python interface to control the DBBC3 programatically by issuing commands and providing the command responses as python objects (e.g. dictionaries, lists, etc).
The core functionality is built around an instance of dbbc3.DBBC3.
from dbbc3.DBBC3 import DBBC3
dbbc3 = DBBC3 ( host = 'dbbc3hostname')
Upon initialization a connection is established to the DBBC3, the currently running mode and version is determined and the corresponding command set is attached to the DBBC3 instance. For example to obtain the current state of the first GCoMo IF module the following command can be issued:
dbbc.dbbcif('A')
Finally the connection should be released:
dbbc3.disconnect()
Note that the control software running on the DBBC3 computer accepts a single client connection only. Make sure that all other client connections, e.g. by the dbbc3 client software, the VLBI Field System etc. have been closed prior to starting your script.
Command structure¶
The dbbc3 commands provided by the python module tyically follow the nameing scheme of the original DBBC3 commands accepted by the DBBC3 control software:
python method = prefix_dbbc3CommandName
Possible prefixes are:
no prefix: for general DBBC3 commands e.g. time()
adb3l: for adb3l commands e.g. adb3l_reseth()
core3h: for core3h commands e.g. core3h_destination(…)
Some examples:
dbbc3 command |
python command |
|---|---|
command 1 |
python 1 |
Row 2, column 1 |
Row 2, column 2 |
Core3h board numbering¶
Unlink in the the DBBC3 control software the python packages starts numbering the core3h parts starting from 0. Alternatively all methods expecting a core board number except characters (‘A’ = 0, ‘B’ = 1 etc.)