addMessage.sh error

[theoretic1337]

See the following excerpt of my log file for addMessage.sh error:

2025-03-22T00:11:50.785448+01:00 allsky allsky[43885]: Executing /home/XXX/allsky/scripts/addMessage.sh --type error 'ERROR: can't get information for camera number 0.'
2025-03-22T00:11:50.785819+01:00 allsky allsky[43891]: sh: 1: Syntax error: Unterminated quoted string

It gives an error because of the unescaped single quote inside "can't".

[EricClaeys]

Thanks for reporting this. I created Issue #4454 to fix this in the next release.
The fix is easy if you want it now. Look for the message in ~/allsky/src/ASI_functions.cpp and change the can't to cannot. Then run:

cd ~/allsky/src
sudo systemctl stop allsky
make
cp capture_??? ../bin
sudo systemctl start allsky

---

The bigger issue is why it couldn't find camera 0. What type of camera is it?

[theoretic1337]

Thank you for your fast reply.

Regarding the bigger issue:
I use a ZWO ASI 178MC that usually works fine. I suspect that my newly installed "USB 3.0 90° adaptor cable 20 cm" (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07SLYC9YQ) where the ZWO ASI is attached is likely the culprit. I added the 90° adaptor, because space in my allsky camera case is limited and I always have to bend the USB camera cable a bit on the Raspberry Pi side for it to fit. I guess the camera does not like the adaptor.

I noticed the following entries in allsky.log:

capture_ZWO: Got SIGTERM to exit. (several of those, always followed with a restart of allsky)

and this:

2025-03-21T18:41:54.141555+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: -----
2025-03-21T18:41:54.142172+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: STARTING EXPOSURE at: 2025-03-21 18:41:54   @ 415,62 ms (0,42 sec)
2025-03-21T18:41:54.142527+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Doing initial usleep(915.615) for exposure time 415.615.
2025-03-21T18:41:56.943306+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Did usleep(20.780) 90 times in loop for total usleep() of 2.785.815us
2025-03-21T18:41:56.943493+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:     > ERROR: Exposure failed after 90 sleeps, s=3.
2025-03-21T18:41:56.943567+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:   > Total errors=1
2025-03-21T18:41:58.943646+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: -----
2025-03-21T18:41:58.943782+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: STARTING EXPOSURE at: 2025-03-21 18:41:58   @ 415,62 ms (0,42 sec)
2025-03-21T18:41:58.943952+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Doing initial usleep(915.615) for exposure time 415.615.
2025-03-21T18:42:00.131447+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Did usleep(20.780) 13 times in loop for total usleep() of 1.185.755us
2025-03-21T18:42:00.131639+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:     > ERROR: Exposure failed after 13 sleeps, s=3.
2025-03-21T18:42:00.131738+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:   > Total errors=2
2025-03-21T18:42:02.132307+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: -----
2025-03-21T18:42:02.132540+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: STARTING EXPOSURE at: 2025-03-21 18:42:02   @ 415,62 ms (0,42 sec)
2025-03-21T18:42:02.132871+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Doing initial usleep(915.615) for exposure time 415.615.
2025-03-21T18:42:03.320581+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Did usleep(20.780) 13 times in loop for total usleep() of 1.185.755us
2025-03-21T18:42:03.320792+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:     > ERROR: Exposure failed after 13 sleeps, s=3.
2025-03-21T18:42:03.320909+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:   > Total errors=3
2025-03-21T18:42:05.320614+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: -----
2025-03-21T18:42:05.320795+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: STARTING EXPOSURE at: 2025-03-21 18:42:05   @ 415,62 ms (0,42 sec)
2025-03-21T18:42:05.321197+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Doing initial usleep(915.615) for exposure time 415.615.
2025-03-21T18:42:06.510175+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Did usleep(20.780) 13 times in loop for total usleep() of 1.185.755us
2025-03-21T18:42:06.510407+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:     > ERROR: Exposure failed after 13 sleeps, s=3.
2025-03-21T18:42:06.510546+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:   > Total errors=4
2025-03-21T18:42:08.510485+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: -----
2025-03-21T18:42:08.510718+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: STARTING EXPOSURE at: 2025-03-21 18:42:08   @ 415,62 ms (0,42 sec)
2025-03-21T18:42:08.516678+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Doing initial usleep(915.615) for exposure time 415.615.
2025-03-21T18:42:09.699449+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:       > Did usleep(20.780) 13 times in loop for total usleep() of 1.185.755us
2025-03-21T18:42:09.699678+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:     > ERROR: Exposure failed after 13 sleeps, s=3.
2025-03-21T18:42:09.700088+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:   > Total errors=5
2025-03-21T18:42:11.699941+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: *** capture_ZWO: ERROR: Maximum number of consecutive errors of 5 reached; capture program exited.
2025-03-21T18:42:11.700339+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: Executing /home/XXX/allsky/scripts/addMessage.sh --type error '*** capture_ZWO: ERROR: Maximum number of consecutive errors of 5 reached; capture program exited.'
2025-03-21T18:42:11.724061+01:00 allsky allsky[5502]: <span style='color: red'>Usage: addMessage.sh [--id ID [--cmd TEXT]] [--delete] [--url url]  --type message_type  --msg message
2025-03-21T18:42:11.724421+01:00 allsky allsky[5502]: </span>
2025-03-21T18:42:11.724586+01:00 allsky allsky[5502]: 'message_type' is 'success', 'warning', 'error', 'info', or 'debug'.
2025-03-21T18:42:11.724732+01:00 allsky allsky[5502]: 'url' is a URL to (normally) a documentation page.
2025-03-21T18:42:11.724928+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:   > Total errors=6
2025-03-21T18:42:11.725114+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]: Calling system(/home/XXX/allsky/scripts/copy_notification_image.sh --expires 0 Error &)
2025-03-21T18:42:12.305146+01:00 allsky allsky[5506]: copy_notification_image.sh: Uploading Error.jpg
2025-03-21T18:42:14.729113+01:00 allsky allsky[5347]:      ***** Stopping Allsky *****
2025-03-21T18:42:14.762035+01:00 allsky allsky[5228]: WARNING: Resetting USB ports  (too many capture errors), then restarting.
2025-03-21T18:42:15.619699+01:00 allsky allsky[5541]: Current status for hub 2 [1d6b:0003 Linux 6.6.74+rpt-rpi-v8 xhci-hcd xHCI Host Controller 0000:01:00.0, USB 3.00, 4 ports, ppps]
2025-03-21T18:42:15.619919+01:00 allsky allsky[5541]:   Port 2: 0203 power 5gbps U0 enable connect [03c3:178a ZWO ASI178MC]
2025-03-21T18:42:15.619990+01:00 allsky allsky[5541]: Sent power off request
2025-03-21T18:42:15.620047+01:00 allsky allsky[5541]: New status for hub 2 [1d6b:0003 Linux 6.6.74+rpt-rpi-v8 xhci-hcd xHCI Host Controller 0000:01:00.0, USB 3.00, 4 ports, ppps]
2025-03-21T18:42:15.620106+01:00 allsky allsky[5541]:   Port 2: 0080 off
2025-03-21T18:42:18.693210+01:00 allsky allsky[5553]: Error: changing port state for multiple hubs at once is not supported.
2025-03-21T18:42:18.693513+01:00 allsky allsky[5553]: Use -l to limit operation to one hub!
2025-03-21T18:42:19.405645+01:00 allsky allsky[5555]: copy_notification_image.sh: Uploading Restarting.jpg
2025-03-21T18:42:19.877067+01:00 allsky allsky[5228]:      ***** AllSky Stopped *****
2025-03-21T18:42:22.974577+01:00 allsky allsky[5592]:      ***** Starting AllSky *****

[EricClaeys]

I agree the adapter is probably causing intermittent problems. In the log file snippet, Allsky found the camera but then couldn't take pictures.

capture_ZWO: Got SIGTERM to exit. (several of those, always followed with a restart of allsky)

when you manually stop Allsky a message is sent to the capture_ZWO program telling it to stop. SIGTERM means TERMinate SIGnal. That log entry is mostly for my debugging so you can ignore it.

I assume you'll remove the adapter and see if the problem goes away?

[theoretic1337]

Yes, after removing the adapter the problem went away. I had it running through the night without issues.

[EricClaeys]

That's a bummer, but at least you know what caused the problem.
Instead of a cable plugging into the adapter cable, you can try a single cable with USB A on one end and 90 degree USB A on the other. That eliminates one connection.

I have several USB cables with 90 degree ends and have never had a problem. You probably just got a bad one. I try to buy either Cable Matters or Jaux (?) cables.