Frequently Asked QuestionsΒΆ

1. What can the QAP do?

In a nutshell, it can process GMOS Imaging data and measure QA metrics. For complete list of what it can do, see Features and Capabilities Currently Available.

2. Where does the QAP run?

The software can be run from any Linux or Mac desktop properly configured. However, for night operations use mkopipe1 or hbfpipe1.

3. How do I start the QAP?

From a telops session, set up the QAP environment with startqap or use the QAP item in the yellow G menu. Then for each new dataset, type autoredux to launch the automatic polling and reduction, and point your brownser to the GUI (for the summit pipeline: http://mkopipe1:8777/qap/nighttime_metrics.html). For more information, see How to operate the Gemini Quality Assurance Pipeline.

4. Do I have to start the QAP?

To run in automatic mode, a process called adcc must be running in the background and autoredux must have been launched in the shell. To view the QA metrics a browser must be pointed to the Nighttime QA Metrics GUI. Also, a ds9 must be launched and the QAP must run in a specific directory.

The short story.

Use startqap or the QAP item in the yellow G menu. Don’t worry about the adcc, type autoredux in the pipeline’s xterm, and point your browser to the GUI.

The long story.

The adcc is the control center and handles communications between the various components of the pipeline, and it serves the web-based GUI. The adcc is launched transparently to the telops user when startqap or the QAP item in the yellow G menu is used. You shouldn’t have to worry about the adcc. But if things go belly up, that could be a sign that the adcc is either in a bad state or dead. If that happens on your watch, call your local pipeline contact. If you feel brave, check the Troubleshooting section.

What you do need to start is autoredux. This command will start the polling of the DHS directory and, for each acquisition and science dataset, it will launch a reduction of that dataset. The QA metrics will ultimately be sent to the GUI.

In order to monitor the QA metrics, you will need to point a browser to the Nighttime QA Metrics GUI served by the adcc. The URL is typically http://mkopipe1:8777/qap/nighttime_metrics.html

The ds9 and the pipeline’s xterm will be launched when you to startqap or select the QAP item in the yellow G menu. You will also be automatically taken the the QAP data reduction directory (/pipestore)

For step by step instructions, see How to operate the Gemini Quality Assurance Pipeline.

5. How do I operate the QAP?

Once set up, just watch the GUI.

6. How to process the next dataset?

Once set up, the pipeline will automatically detect the next dataset and process it. Just sit back, relax, and watch the GUI.

7. How to process the previous dataset?

Why would you want to do that? Okay, you might have a valid reason, but I’m afraid that for the time being, in automatic mode you cannot go back and reprocess the data while autoredux is running.

8. Is the QAP interactive?

Nope. PyRAF should be used for interactivity.

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