Centaur - Release Notes V 4.0.8 - Rev2
Centaur - Release Notes V 4.0.8 - Rev2
Centaur - Release Notes V 4.0.8 - Rev2
4.0.8 2017-11-02
3.4.14 2017-02-27
3.3.3 2016-11-08
2.1.6 2015-08-10
2.0.13 2015-03-24
2.0.5 2014-12-23
2.0.4 2014-11-21
1.5.30 2015-08-10
1.2.1 2015-02-26
1.1.32 2014-04-25
1.0.4 2013-07-22
Software Summary
Firmware version 4.0.8 release is an optional release primarily for users with applications
requiring use of network timing synchronization, free-run timing, reduced digitizing latency
options, or need any of the specific other improvements or fixes in this release. It introduces
selectable time sources, including precision timing protocol (PTP), network time protocol (NTP)
and free-running capabilities, for all Titan accelerograph products. Minimum-phase (causal)
low-latency anti-aliasing filters are now available as an alternative to linear-phase filters.
Additional improvements and fixes are also included that improve the usability and reliability of
the instrument. See details below.
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New Features
Precision network timing and free-run timing
In addition to GPS/GNSS timing, Precision Time Protocol (PTPv1) and Network Time Protocol
(NTP) are added as selectable time references for Nanometrics digitizer instruments (Centaur,
TitanSMA and Titan EA). You can also set the time manually and let the instrument free-run. It
is also possible to synchronize timing by configuring a Centaur to act as a PTPv1 or NTP time
server for other instruments when its time server reference is NTP, GNSS, or free-running. For
example, a Centaur could get its timing from its internal GPS/GNSS receiver and simultaneously
serve PTPv1 over a local network to a TitanSMA or other Nanometrics instrument.
There are a wide range of use cases and applications for this very flexible timing system. See
the user guide for more application examples and details on usage, setup, network
configuration, and performance.
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The Web Interface Health page now shows both the configured and calculated GNSS earth
location.
DNS server configuration available when using a static IP address
Firmware version 4.0.8 introduces the ability to configure up to two DNS server IP addresses
when configuring a static IP address configuration on the E
thernet page of the Configuration
menu. These IP addresses are ignored when a DHCP or Link-Local IP address configuration is
specified.
Note that it is possible for users to become locked out of the instrument if the firewall is
configured incorrectly. Only users with advanced Linux and networking knowledge should
attempt to configure the firewall on Nanometrics instruments.
Improvements
Configurable filename extensions added to archive filenames
Previously, archive filenames were created with a fixed filename extension (.miniseed or .csv,
depending on the archive format). Firmware version 4.0.8 now allows you to configure the
filename extension using the filename pattern fields. If the end of the filename pattern contains a
dot (.) followed by text, the resulting archive files will use that added text as a filename
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extension. Conversely, if the end of the filename does not contain a dot (.) followed by text, then
the archive files will be created without a filename extension.
Fixed issue where the Centaur responded improperly to time-based SeedLink data
retrieval requests
In previous releases, the Centaur responded improperly to time-based SeedLink data retrieval
requests, resulting in SeedLink clients such as slinktool and slarchive re-requesting the data
indefinitely. Firmware version 4.0.8 fixes this issue.
Fixed issue where Seedlink Server cannot backfill requested packets recorded at
higher sample rates faster than real-time
In previous releases, the Seedlink Server was slow to backfill requested data and could
gradually get further behind, never catching up to real-time. Firmware version 4.0.8 fixes this
issue.
Note that the data that was recorded to the instrument internal storage prior to the upgrade is
still subject to the slow SeedLink backfill problem. You can optionally choose to recreate the
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store after upgrading to 4.0.8 to delete all prior data to ensure that the instrument does not
attempt to backfill data recorded prior to the upgrade.
Fixed issue where data retrieval could not be performed with duration specified
When attempting to download data from the Maintenance page using start time and duration
fields to specify the time range, the duration value will no longer be rejected.
Firmware upgrade will cause the Linux root password to revert to the factory
default password
If upgrading the firmware from version 3.1.3 or earlier to version 3.2.8 or later, the passwords for
logging in to the Linux root or the calibration file upload accounts will revert to factory default
passwords. The passwords to log on to the Web user interface are preserved.
Workaround: If you have previously changed the Linux passwords, you must use the
factory default password to login and manually update them to the desired passwords.
Search for “Calibration Password” in the on-line help or in the PDF User Guide.
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● File format extensions will be appended to all existing archive filename patterns.
‘.miniseed’ will be added to seismic data archive filenames, and either ‘.miniseed’ or
‘.csv’ will be added to existing SOH archive filenames, depending on the configured SOH
archive format.
● Seismic event archives will be reconfigured to use MiniSEED format, regardless of the
current configuration. This format setting will have to be changed after firmware upgrade
if another format is desired.
● Support for SOH archive files in NP format was removed in firmware version 1.5.28. If
the Centaur is initially using an older firmware version and SOH archive files are
configured to use NP format, this setting will be reconfigured to use MiniSEED format.
Workaround: This issue is exclusive to newer versions of Firefox. Using an alternate
browser (Chrome, Safari) will avoid this issue. Using an older version of Firefox (version
40.0 or previous) is also a viable workaround. To address the issue in versions of Firefox
that are newer than version 40.0, enter about:config in the Firefox address bar and set
dom.url.getters_decode_hash to true.
Context menu “paste” does not work properly in configuration menu
When configuring the instrument using the configuration menu in the Web Interface, the use of
context menu paste (i.e. right-clicking the item and selecting “paste” from the subsequent menu)
will insert text that visibly looks correct but will not be recognized by the configuration system.
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Workaround: Use the keyboard shortcut ‘CTRL-V’ to paste the configuration instead of
using the context menu paste.
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