How to retrieve a copy of /var/log/messages from a Platinum system - Windows Serial Connection.

Overview

The file /var/log/messages contains important diagnostic information about your Platinum systemA "platinum system" is any system running the Platinum operating system. This includes stand-alone acquisition systems such as EAMs and NAMs, DAS units such as the Affinity and DM24SxEAM and digital instruments with built-in acquisition systems such as the 3TDE, 40TDE or 5TDE.. Technical support staff may occasionally request that you send them a copy of this file to assist in diagnosing problems with your system. This document describes how to do this using a Windows PC or laptop with a serial connection.

You should only consider using the serial port for this purpose if it is not practical or possible to use the network port. If you can use the network port, please follow the network version of these instructions instead.

The procedure

This step requires the use of a terminal emulator with support for the zModem file-transfer protocol. Güralp recommend ExtraPuTTYExtraPuTTY is an extension to Simon Tatham's free (both as in “free speech” and also as in “free beer”) and highly-recommended PuTTY software, an SSH client, telnet client and serial terminal emulator that runs under Windows and Linux. In addition to all the features of PuTTY, ExtraPuTTY provides x-modem, y-modem and z-modem file transfers over serial links. ExtraPuTTY can be downloaded from SourceForge's ExtraPuTTY page. . These instructions will assume that you are using ExtraPuTTY but the techniques involved will be very similar with any other emulator.

If your PC has serial ports, connect the digitiser to the PC and note the port number used - e.g. COM1.

If you PC doesn't have a serial port, connect the digitiser to a serial-to-USB converter and plug that into the PC. Open Windows Device Manager and expand the Ports section to see the COM number allocated to your serial-to-USB converter.

Using Windows Device Manager to identify a serial port

The Device Manager display is updated in real time so, if you are uncertain, you can unplug and then reconnect the USB cable to see which entry disappears and reappears:

plugging and unplugging a USB convertor while watching Device Manager

Once you have identified the correct serial port, open ExtraPuTTY and:

Change the Connection type to Se_rial;
Enter the COM number in the Serial li_ne box; and
Enter 38400 in the S_peed box.

as shown:

Now scroll down the menu in the left-hand pane and select Serial from the Connection section. Check the settings for Data _bits, S_top bits and _Parity are 8, 1 and None, as shown, and set the _Flow control to None (DTR/RTS disable):

ExtraPuTTY's serial connection configuration window

Next, scroll back up the menu in the left-hand pane and select ZModem from the ExtraPuTTY → File Transfer section:

Enter the path to a suitable folder in the Location: box in the Download folder section. The folder must exist and you will need to have write authority in it. This is where the downloaded file will be placed.

Once you are satisfied the the settings are correct, click to open the emulator window.

When the emulator window opens, log in as normal and the issue the commands

cd /var/log sz messages

Then, from the emulator window menu, select File Transfer → Zmodem → Receive.

selecting 'receive' from the 'File transfer, Zmodem' menu

This will initiate a transfer of the /var/log/messages file from the Platinum system to your PC. A progress indicator giving the ETA will be displayed:

PuTTY's progress indicator shown during a file-transfer

The ETA indicator disappears when the transfer is complete:

Key enter to continue.

The messages file will have been transferred into the folder you specified. Terminate your command-line session by typing ctrl + d then exit ExtraPuTTY by clicking the close button:

Logging out and closing the PuTTY enulation window

You can then use your normal email tools to send the file to GSL support staff.