LiteOS Frequently Asked Questions

---

Installation Problems

• I got this message saying "Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: install/installer" when invoking the LiteOS installer under the Tools directory. 
• How do I turn on the colorized output?
  
• I got this message saying like "Installation fails! Here is the diagnosis information: <Diagnosis info starts>  -> /dev/ttyS5<Diagnosis info ends>".What does this mean?
• I got this message saying like "Installation fails! Here is the diagnosis information: <Diagnosis info starts> Firmware Version: 1.8 Probably the AVR MCU is not in the RESET state.
  Check it out and run me again. <Diagnosis info ends>.
• I got this message saying like "port in use".
• How do I know I have downloaded the kernel code successfully?

Shell Problems 

• How do I know I have a working base station?
• I don't get any directory by invoking "ls".

I got this message saying
"Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: install/installer" when invoking the LiteOS installer under the Tools directory.

Make sure that you are invoking the java install.installer command in the Tools directory, or more precisely, in the upper level directory of install.  Otherwise, the Java virtual machine will not be able to locate the main class.
Back to top.

How do I turn on the colorized output?

Use the -color option in the installer and in the terminal will turn on colorized characters. But note that native Cygwin does not support such characters. You have to use other terminal emulators, like rxvt, to get colorized output.
Back to top.

I got this message saying like "Installation fails! Here is the diagnosis information: <Diagnosis info starts>  -> /dev/ttyS5<Diagnosis info ends>". What does this mean?

You may have other ttyS numbers. The general rule is that here, ttyS5 means COM6, and COM6 probably is the wrong port to use here, since this error occurs when this port cannot be found.
Back to top.

I got this message saying like "Installation fails! Here is the diagnosis information: <Diagnosis info starts> Firmware Version: 1.8 Probably the AVR MCU is not in the RESET state. Check it out and run me again. <Diagnosis info ends>

There are several possible reasons. First, your mote is not securely plugged into the programming board. Second, the programming board may not be in a working state. Third, the mote may not be in a working state. Try to reset things. Otherwise, if it is still not working, try different programming boards or motes.
Back to top.

I got this message saying like "port in use"

As this message says, there must be another application (such as the terminal) using the port. Note that on MIB520, when you supply COM5, for instance, the installer will try to use both COM5 and COM6. Make sure that both ports are available.
Back to top.

How do I know I have downloaded the kernel code successfully?
When you first turn on a mote that is installed with the kernel, all three LED on it will be on for a few seconds, during which it is initializing itself. If none of the LED is on, then you know that you probably do not have a working kernel version installed on this mote. (Note this feature is added in Version 0.12b).
Back to top.

How do I know I have a working base station?
Whenever you use a command in the shell, you should see the base station node blinks its green LED  when it is sending out packets, and blinks its red LED when it is receiving packets. Otherwise, you know that your base probably needs a re-installation.
Back to top.

I don't get any directory by invoking "ls".
There are several possible reasons for this. Do the following:
1 Check whether your base station is working.
2 Check whether the programming board has the right switch ON/OFF combinations. For the MIB510 we have, we find that you have to set the on/off button to be *OFF* to get replies. Try to change the switch button on your programming board to see if you can get replies. Also, make sure that the motes are ON and POWERED.
Back to top.