How to edit custom logger_topics.txt

🧪 Flight Testing & Log Analysis
1

It could be an easy question.
I’m trying to read and write “etc/logging/logger_topics.txt” in sd card for customized logging.

But, I connect through mavlink console, I can’t find even the logging folder in etc.

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I plugged in sd card in my laptop in order to make directory and file directly,
but it only shows log directory, dataman file, and some other text files.

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Where and how can I read and write logger_topics.txt file?

2

Hi,

You have to create the folder and add the text file manually on the sd card.

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3

Where can I create the folder and add the text file?

In the mavlink console, mkdir command or editing file doesn’t work. (or I don’t know how to do)

In my laptop, I can’t see root folder such as etc, fs, obj, proc…
Or am I have to create etc/logging/logger_topics.txt in the place where I have shown above question?

4

@elton-choi:
The SD card is mounted to the path /fs/microsd/

In the startup script rcS, you should find the following that mounts the SD card (if it can be found)

#
# Try to mount the microSD card.
#
# REBOOTWORK this needs to start after the flight control loop
if mount -t vfat /dev/mmcsd0 /fs/microsd
then
	echo "[i] microSD mounted: /fs/microsd"
	if hardfault_log check
	then
		tone_alarm error
		if hardfault_log commit
		then
			hardfault_log reset
			tone_alarm stop
		fi
  else
    # Start playing the startup tune
    tone_alarm start
fi
...

If the SD card was mounted correctly, it will appear in the path /fs/microsd/. If you cd to this directory and run ls, you should see the contents of the SD card displayed.

If I am not mistaken you are only able to run mkdir on a path on your SD card, or on a path where there is a virtual file system that allows writing. The files that you see in /etc/ are stored directly in the STM32F4 flash, and are “read-only”.

I hope that makes some sense to you?

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5

Open the sd card with your computer, create the folder “etc”, in that folder create the folder “logging”. Then create a txt file named “logger_topics.txt”. In that file put the topics you want to log :slight_smile:

1 Like
6

Yes, you’re right. /fs/microsd/ area is only read-write available. mkdir command works there.
That’s the reason why I can only see /fs/microsd/ area in my laptop.

I have 2 more questions.

  1. how can I know some folders and files are in flash or eeprom? (folders and files in sd card is definite) and there is a way I can choose the physical location of some folders and files? or it is automatic?

  2. and is there a way I can view and edit some files through mavlink console? (of course, edit function is only availabe where write available)

7

Yes, you’re right. I misunderstood explanation of developer guide.
They write down the location etc/logging/logger_topics.txt “on sd card”.
(I’m confused with etc directory ^^;)
I have tested and make sure.

and I’m curious where basic logged topics are set even if I don’t customize my logger_topics.txt? They are set in the code? or something else?

8

The default topics are set here

1 Like
9

@elton-choi:

  • I don’t know if there is a way to tell if files are in the EEPROM or flash. I do know that the ROMFS is “mounted” to the the /etc/ path by NuttX. This is determined by the CONFIG_NSH_ROMFSMOUNTPT define in the Nuttx defconfig file. By changing this define, you can change the mount point of your ROMFS. See the extract from a defconfig below:
...
CONFIG_NSH_ROMFSMOUNTPT="/etc"
CONFIG_NSH_INITSCRIPT="init.d/rcS"
...

You can change the mount point of the SD card by changing the mount -t vfat /dev/mmcsd0 /fs/microsd line in the rcS file. You can change the fs/microsd path to whatever path you would like for mounting the SD card.

  • I don’t know if you can edit files via the mavlink console. Perhaps someone else knows whether this is possible.
1 Like