As explained in Introduction, the new antenna computer runs the UN*X-like RTOS. The telescope control software (TCS), or the new antenna code, is just one of many user processes running under the RTOS. "Reloading the antenna computer" now acutally means "restarting the TCS and related processes by reestablishing the connection between the UIP and the antenna computer". (For the old antenna computer, it meant "reloading everything, including the FORTH kernel".)
To reload the antenna computer, use UIP's ANTENNA_LOAD command:
UIP> ANTENNA_LOAD /RESTART /NOSYNCHRONIZE Deleting process ACQ_CLIENT Deleting process ANT_MCP Restarting ANT_MCP... Restarting ACQ_CLIENT... * Restoring display mode... * Restoring offsets... * Loading PNT_DIR:DEFAULT.CONF... * Loading pointing file... * Restoring pointing offsets... * Loading zenith angle limits... * Loading sidecab mirror positions... UIP>
The ANTENNA_LOAD command with the /RESTART option restarts the client processes on alpha1 and reconnects to the new antenna computer, which restarts the servers and the TCS. The /NOSYNCHRONIZE option prevents the ANTENNA_LOAD command from sending any messages to the backend computer.
Unlike the old one, you do not normally have to reboot the new antenna computer. Although the UIP still tells you to reset it, and there is indeed a white reset switch at the bottom of the VME enclosure, DO NOT press it unless you are 100 % sure. In most cases, restarting the TCS as explained above is enough.
If rebooting the antenna computer is really required, first try the graceful method, i.e., try rebooting by logging on to the antenna computer and issuing a reboot command. If that fails, use the reset switch. You have to restart everything once the antenna computer is rebooted:
UIP> ANTENNA_LOAD /RESTART /NOSYNCHRONIZE
...snip...
UIP>