This chapter describes the operations for configuring the instrument (choosing the module or function to be used) and the system (date, language, input/output, etc.).
The topics discussed in this chapter are as follows: – “Principle of the set-up menus” on page 50 – “Configuring the instrument” on page 50 – “Configuring the unit” on page 53 – “Standalone results” on page 65 – “Expert Tools” on page 65 – “Desktop Applications” on page 68
Chapter 4 System set-up
Principle of the set-up menus
The procedures described below usually use the direction keys. When the instrument is equipped with a mouse or/and a touch screen:
- the user must adapt the text to the option used; which means that for touch screen and mouse, the user must directly click on the desired field.
- to edit a string of characters, the key of the Platform 8000 must sometimes be used.
Principle of the set-up menus
A set-up can be displayed or modified while an acquisition or measure- ment is in progress. The parameters that cannot be modified are greyed out. The menu thus gives all the possible options, excluding numerical values.
– To move from one parameter to another, use the direction keys and . When a parameter is selected, its possible values are shown to the right of the parameter.
– To modify the value of a parameter, use the direction keys and to highlight the option selected.
– To leave a set-up menu the user can press any of the keys below the screen or the menu key Exit.
Configuring the instrument
Since the instrument can be equipped with a range of modules and plug- ins, a variety of functions are possible. Before carrying out a particular measurement, it is therefore necessary to select the function or functions required for it
If a module has been changed, the instrument configuration menu will automatically be displayed as soon as the power is switched on. The functions of Transport, Reflectometry, Spectrum Analysis, Polariza- tion Mode Dispersion (PMD), Chromatic Dispersion (CD), Visible Source (VFL), Power Measurement (Radiometry), Talkset (option) are not mutu- ally exclusive: several functions can be active at once.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the instrument
To configure the instrument, proceed as follows:
– press the SYSTEM button.
The functions available on the instrument are represented graphi- cally by icons.
To validate a function:
– Move on to the icon representing the function to be validated using the direction keys (or the mouse or external keyboard if the corre- sponding option is present).
– Press the validation key to confirm the selection. The icon turns red and is outlined with a bright frame.
Power bargraph
If a BERT module is used, or in the case the configuration of the Platform 8000 installed is subject to a high power consumption, a power bara- graph is displayed.
This bargraph is shown only if the total static power budget of all func- tions present in the configuration exceed a power limit.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the instrument
Bargraph
color Signification
Total power that can be delivered by the highest mains power supply option of the Platform 8000.
Actual power available at the moment. This available power can change dur- ing unit’s works:
– after an external supply connection/disconnection,
– after a variation of power due to the battery charging mode,
– after a variation of power delivered by two batteries set in parallel because of an evolution of their difference of charge.
The actual power consumed or that can be consumed by the base itself and all the selected functions. This area can change during unit’s works
– if new functions are selected/unselected
– if dynamic requests modify the power budget of any function
POWER
Fig. 26 Power baragraph
Lef
t
A V A I L A B L ERight
I N U S EChapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
Validating
several
simultaneous
functions
It is possible to validate several distinct functions, whether or not they are elements of the same application1. Thus it is possible, for example, to activate the microscope function at the same time as the OTDR function by validating each of them.
When several functions are validated, pressing the keyboard keys (SETUP, FILE, RESULTS, START/STOP, SCRIPT) will give access to the function in focus (with green round its icon).
To change from one function to another:
– If the functions are elements of the same application (for example, Optical Fibres), simply change tabs (refer to the manual corre- sponding to the application).
– If the functions are not elements of the same application (for example, to change over from the OTDR function to the Transport function), return to the instrument configuration screen shown here and place the focus on the Transport function. The actions of the keyboard keys will then indeed be those corresponding to the Trans- port function.
Help
The Help Page of the SYSTEM menu calls up the presentation page of the Platform 8000 (see "Presentation page of the Platform 8000" page 27) and its electronic manual (future function).Configuring the unit
When the Platform 8000 is to be used for the first time, or before a measurement campaign is started, the parameters of the system must be configured:
– the parameters specific to the Platform 8000 (screen lighting level, automatic shutdown, validation of SVGA output).
– the parameters specific to the country of use: language, date, time, display format of date and time.
– parameters of input/output.
1.For example, OTDR, OSA and PMD are all elements of the Optical Fibres appli- cation
Use only the direction keys to move the focus on to the desired func- tion. Do not use the validation key, which would have the con- trary effect of de-activating the function.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
– activation of loudspeaker and regulation of sound level (with Talkset option)
– programming of automatic shutdown (during battery operation). – IP adress for upgrading via the network
– parameters for printing
To call up this configuration menu, press the SYSTEM button, then the menu key System Setup.
Factory Default
Configuration
Screen
– Darklight: +0 – Contrast: Indoor – Screen Saver: No – SVGA output: NoFig. 27 System configuration screen
NOTE
The key FACTORY DEFAULTallows to reinitialize the configuration set in factory, in case of error during the new configuration.
NOTE
In all the Setup screens, an help is displayed on the bottom right of the screen, concerning the use of direction keys on the Platform 8000.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
Country
– Language: English – Date Format: dd/mm/yyyy – Time Format: 24 hour clock – Net Time: None
I/O Interface
– Remote Screen: No
– Ethernet: Config. 1 / Security: Standard – File Export: None
Utility
– Talkset : Speaker: On Volume: 4 – VFL Mode: 1 Hz
– Auto off: 30 minutes (only on battery operation) – Upgrade Parameters: Server address: 172.16.27.18
Printer
– Printer : None
Screen
Choosing screen lighting level
In the Screen window, move the cursor on to Lighting.
– use the direction keysorto choose the desired lighting level (between -5 and +5).
or
– click on Edit Number to enter the screen lighting level on the numeric keypad
Contrast
– Indoor: to be selected when the instrument is used inside – Outdoor: to be selected in order to optimize the readability of the
screen for an outside use.
If the Platform 8000 is operating on battery, it is advisable to choose a minimum lighting level acceptable for the user, to keep endurance as long as possible.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
Screen saver
This feature is available both when battery powered or AC powered. Its purpose is to extend the life of the screen, in case the Platform 8000 is not used for some time. Instead of the normal screen, a small animated picture of the Platform 8000 is displayed on the blackened screen, even- tually followed from time to time by a name and phone number.
To configure this feature, select Screen Saver. A sub-menu is displayed :
Screen saver 60s, 3 min, 5 min, No. <No> disables the screen saver. Other values indicate time of inactivity before the screen saver automatically starts. If the screen saver is enabled (a time is set), the following two lines are proposed.
Name A name or comment may be entered. This name or comment may be usefull to persons who find the Platform 8000 in the screen saver mode. Information such as who currently uses the apparatus, where to find the person or any other commercial information may be entered.
Fig. 28 Contrast configuration
Fig. 29 Screen saver displaying the factory name
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
Phone number A phone number or other comment may also be added in order to provide more information : number to call in case of emergency, user telephone number...
SVGA output
Information displayed on the screen of the Platform 8000 can be trans- ferred on to an external monitor or projector. To do this:
– connect the monitor or projector to the rear SVGA connector; – in the Screen window of the configuration menu, move the cursor
on to SVGA output and confirm Yes.
Country
Choosing language (Language)
Select one of the languages offered, using the direction keys or.
Resetting the date (Date)
Change the date by using the direction keysor
Resetting the time (Time)
– Use the direction keys or to change the minutes and hours
Choosing date and time format
Choose one of the options: dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy for the date format. Use the direction keys or to change the hour format (12 hour clock / 24 hour clock).
Net Time > Sync.
This parameter allows to configure the date and time of the Platform according to a network.
NOTE
This function is deactivated each time the Platform 8000 is switched off.
NOTE
The ENGLISH CAPS parameter allows to get a display in English, with all words in capitals.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
– Dynamic Mode: the time is synchronized according to the local network.
The two lines Server Name are displayed but cannot be modified. – Static Mode: in this case, the time is synchronized to the network
server which is defined in the two following parameters.
On the parameter Address Type, select if the address of the server which will be used for synchronization is entered via its IP Address or via the Server Name..
If IP Address is selected, enter one or two server addresses in the following parameters. During synchronization, the first address will always be used, but if a fail occurs, the second one will be used. If Server Name is selected, enter the name of the server, and if necessary a name for second server. During synchronization, the first server name will always be used, but if a fail occurs, the second one will be used.
During synchronization, the icon displayed next to the time, on the upper banner, is displayed and once the synchronization is valid, the icon becomes .
– None: the time is not synchronized according to a server. In this case, the user can reset date and time himself, using the fields Date and Time.
I/O Interface
Remote screen
It is possible to remote the screen of the Platform 8000 on to a PC or on to another Platform 8000 and to read the contents of the disk of the Plat- form 8000 on a PC or on the other Platform 8000. To do this, see ."Accessing the Platform 8000 from a PC" page 39
It is also possible to remote screen of a distant Platform 8000 onto another Platform 8000 and to have full control of the distant instrument. To do this, see "VNC - Remote screen" page 90.
If the network configuration is modified, synchronization may be lost.
NOTE
In Dynamic or Static Mode, the parameters Date and Time are inac- tive.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
Remote screen = Session or Permanent or Permanent with Pass- word must be confirmed in both cases, in the Interface E/S window. Session Mode the remote screen function is inactive once
the Platform 8000 is switched off.
Permanent Mode the remote screen function is still active when the Platform 8000 is switched off and restarted.
Permanent with Password same function as the Permanent mode, with an access to the equipment via VNC protected by a password: 42000
No the screen cannot be remote on a PC or on another Platform 8000.
Ethernet
Parameters of the local Ethernet network to which the Platform 8000 is connected:
Mode - Config 1 to 4 static mode enabling input of the configuration of 4 sites.
- Dynamic in this mode, which requires a DHCP server, the Platform 8000 requests an IP address from this server which will be allocated dynamically if dynamic host configuration is activated on the local network.
After selecting this mode or after power-on, the Platform 8000 tries to establish a connection to obtain an address from a DHCP server. If for any reason, this process fails, the Platform 8000 reverses to static IP address mode with User1 IP address.
Name of site the user can enter the name of the site in the Edit menu.
NOTE
The password to access VNC can be modified using a specific com- mand (see Programming Manual: 8010M00).
NOTE
When the equipment is in the Remote screen mode, the icon is displayed at the bottom of the screen.If two users or more are con- nected to the Platform 8000, the following icon will be displayed .
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
IP address IP address of the Platform 8000 IP mask address of the mask of the sub-network
IP gateway IP address of the machine enabling access outside the sub-network.
DNS2 IP address of the machine providing the IP address on the basis of the name
Domain name name of the local network to which the Platform 8000 is connected.
Security Standard: with this mode, the software upgrade is enable
Enhanced: in this case, no upgrade is possible, all the servers used to upgrade the unit cannot be started, especially TFTP server. This mode allows to use the Platform 8000 safely, without any problem due to the network
Modem (Optional function of the Base Unit)
Parameters for a modem (installed as an option)
Modem Mode May be configured as server or client (client 1, 2, 3 or 4).
Modem Tone May be set on on or off, according to your phone operator characteristics
Phone Number of the line (with client configuration) Login Pre-defined as rtu and not modifiable
Password Default password saved by default (not visible) To validate the new password, you must turn off and disconnect tje Plat- form, plug it back and restart it.
File Export
In the I/O Interfaces menu, select File Export to configure the system in order to send traces and results by e-mail.
Parameters to configure the mail feature.
Send Mail Choose Ethernet if you wish to use the sending mail function.
Sender Mode Auto or Manual.
In Auto mode, you will not have the possibility to reply to the mail sent.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
In Manual mode, the reply will be sent to the address entered in the line From.Use the button
to enter into an edition window
Relay Mode Auto or Manual.
If the e-mail sending is performed via a SMTP network, select the Manual Relay mode and indicate the SMTP server address in the field Mail Relay, using the button to open the edition window.
In Auto mode, the sending of e-mail is performed automatically.
See "Send by mail" page 120 for more explanation on sending files.
Utilities
Talkset
Parameters to use when the instrument is equipped with the talkset option (see "«Talkset» optical telephone function" page 87).
All Platform 8000 are equipped with a loud speaker as standard. Some are also equipped with an integral microphone.
When no internal microphone is present, this option is used to set the loud speaker to On or Off.
Platform 8000 equipped with an internal microphone offer a conference mode on this line. This mode may be set as:
– Speaker and Micro off – Speaker only – Speaker and Micro on
When you are in conference mode, you don’t need the headphone supplied with the talkset option to hear and talk hands free to the user of the remote instrument.
Another line is used in both cases to set the volume level. The same setting is used for headphone, headphone microphone, loud speaker and internal microphone, if any.
Use the direction keys or the numeric keypad to change the volume level (Min = 0 / Max = 7).
If Sender Mode is set to Auto, any reply to an e-mail sent by the Plat- form 8000 will be lost.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
VFL Mode
Select the mode of emission of the light signal: – 1 Hz: frequency of 1Hz (blinking signal) – CW: signal is emitted in a Continuous Wave
Automatic shutdown
This function switches off the Platform 8000 automatically if no operation has been performed and no key actuated for a period selected from this menu. Work in progress is automatically saved.
– To activate this function, open the Utilities window and move the cursor on to Auto off, then choose an option (5, 10 or 15 min.) so that the Platform 8000 will be automatically switched off if no key has been actuated for the period selected.
– To deselect this function go into the Utilities window, move the cursor on to Auto Stop, then choose option No.
Update
When updating the software, (see "Installing a new version of the soft- ware" page 126), in the Server Address line of the configuration menu > Upgrade Parameters, enter the IP address of the PC on which the updating files were loaded.
Printer
Parameters for configuring an internal printer, a USB printer or for saving JPG files.Printer None, internal, internal compressed , USB, Files (Formatted), Files (Screen).
If you choose USB, you can configure the manufacturer and model type of the printer to be connected on the next two lines. The parameter USB Land allows to configure the printer as the USB parameter, but also to print with landscape setting. If you select Internal or Internal compressed, you don’t need to select the printer manufacturer or the printer type.
NOTE
The function for automatically switching off the Platform 8000 is avail- able only on battery operation, to save the battery.
Chapter 4 System set-up
Configuring the unit
Files (Formatted or Screen): allows to print to the JPG format
Files (Formatted)
Choosing in the Printer menu, the option Files (Formatted), you can print the open file of the Platform 8000 in the JPG format, exactely as if the file was printed on paper. Therefore, if the file (trace or other) is too large for one A4 page, several JPG files will be created.Printing a trace to the JPG format
Once the Files (Formatted) function is selected: 1 Open the trace to be printed in the JPG format
2 If necessary, make the modifications on the trace (see user manual of the 8100 series).
3 Set the trace view as wished:
– if the function is set to the Trace mode (Trace is selected on the menu key Trace/Table/Summary), the JPG file will countain the header and the trace (in one page).
– If the function is set to Table mode (Table is selected on the menu key Trace/Table/Summary), the JPG file will countain the header, the trace and the entire results table (several pages may