12. Cloning Devices

Unfortunately, the names of devices listed in the DEVICES section must all be different. This is due to limitations of the way shared libraries are handled and, as far as devices are concerned that are controlled via the GPIB bus, to certain requirements of the GPIB libraries. Thus, if two or more exactly identical devices are to be used simultaneously additional shared libraries with different names for these devices have to be created.

Fortunately, this is such a simple process that it can be done via a script (at least as long as the modules are written following the conventions discussed in the next chapter). There are basically three or four steps:

1. cd into the `utils' subdirectory of fsc2s main directory.
2. Run the script `clone_device'.
3. Re-make fsc2 and reinstall.
4. Update the GPIB configuration file if necessary.

The script `clone_device' is a Perl script thus you'll need Perl installed to be able to run it. The script resides in the utils subdirectory of fsc2s main directory and can only be run from within this directory. It asks for the name of the device to be cloned (i.e. the name of the device of which two or more are to be used simultaneously), a new name for the device and finally for another name that is going to be used in warnings, error messages, and, if applicable, in the GPIB configuration file.

Lets assume you have use two lock-in amplifiers of type sr510 and thus need a second device module that will be invoked by the name sr510_b. Here is a complete example of what you'll have to expect when running the script (together with the answers):

jens@crowley:~/fsc2/utils > clone_device 

This program allows you to automatically create a new device
module from an already existing module. This is necessary only
in cases where two identical devices must be used simultaneously.

You will have to enter the name of the device you want to clone
in exactly the same way as it would appear in the DEVICES section
of an EDL program.

Do you want to continue [y/n]? y

Name of the device module you want to clone :  sr510

Please enter the name for the new module    :  sr510_b

Also a device name (to be used in error messages and
possibly in the GPIB configuration file) is needed.

Please enter a new device name (the old name is SR510) :  SR510_B

Thanks, that were all the required informations...

Everything worked out well. Now you simply have to re-make fsc2
(just cd back to the main directory and type 'make' and, when
this succeeds, become root and type 'make install').

If the device is controlled via the GPIB bus you still have to
update the GPIB configuration file manually (usually, it's
/etc/gpib.conf). Just copy the section for the old device,
replace the device name by `SR510_B' and change the GPIB
address to the one of the new device.

If the device is accessed via the serial port you will have to
edit its configuration file ('sr510_b.conf' in the 'config'
directory) to set the serial port it's attached to *before* you
compile and install the new module.

When you have run the script you will have to cd back from the `utils' subdirectory to fsc2s main directory (just type cd ..) and recompile, using the make command. After a successful run of make to compile the new device module you still have to install it. To do so you must become root (type "su" and then enter the root password) and, still from fsc2s main directory, run make install.

For devices controlled via the GPIB bus will have also to edit (still with root privileges) the GPIB configuration file (which usually is `/etc/gpib.conf') and copy the entry for the cloned device. In this copy change the device name to the one you had entered while running the script (i.e. in the example SR510) to the new device name SR510_B and finally set the GPIB address entry correctly.

For devices attached to the serial port you must change the serial port setting in the configuration file for the device (the configuration files for all devices are in the `config' subdirectory below fsc2s main directory and the file name is identical to the device name and has the extension .conf) before you compile and install the new module.

This document was generated by Jens Thoms Toerring on September 6, 2017 using texi2html 1.82.