MESA 7i92 configuration won't load - Error

Hey guys,
So I can't seem to load the pncconf created configuration. I am not sure what my next troubleshooting steps should be.

This is for a 3 axis gantry style cnc machine, using analog chinese servos +/- 10v. Servos are tested as working.

I have a 7i92 flashed with the 7i77x2 firmware, and set via jumpers to the EEPROM 10.10.10.10. I used the stickied ethernet setup instructions to a T (which, btw, only work if the card is 10.10.10.10, not it's default 192.168.1.121, which confused me for at least a few hours, and isn't mentioned in the guide at all). The system is per the stickied easy mint setup, linux mint 19.3, with the 4.16.12-rt5-kona-rt kernel (which runs like a dream with stock bios settings on the J3455B-ITX at <30k latency). I also have a separate wifi card for internet.

Once I switched the IP address, I can now ping the card (~.150ms), and mesaflash rhmid finds the card and lists all the IO on it. Writing the bit file worked and verify worked on the firmware. I have a 7i77 plugged directly into the db25 sideways facing port on the 7i92.

When I set up the configuration in pncconf I choose the 7i92-internal and the 7i77x2 with one 7i77 option. Continuing, It cannot run open loop or testing, either nothing happens or it crashes. If i ignore this and go through the rest of the config, it doesnt throw any errors and it saves the config.

If I then try to open the config with the config launcher to start linuxcnc, I get an error. The file I get has lots of things that look happy - no errorlooking messages, but then at the bottom:

Debug File Information:
Note: Using POSIX realtime
./machinenameConfig.hal:22: parameter or pin 'hm2_7i92.0.dpll.01.timer-us' not found
32086
Stopping realtime threads
Unloading hal components
Note: Using POSIX realtime

Questions (3):
1. Why won't the configuration load?
2. What is dpll.01.timer-us?
3. Am I supposed to be able to open loop test or tune/test the servos in pncconf?

In advance, thanks so much for your help, and all the awesome information on this forum!

You need to use the 7i92_7i77x2D firmware to have the DPLL module
(you could do without by just commenting out the offending lines in the hal file)

The DPLL module is a Digital Phase Locked Loop that is used as a sampling time filter
for mainly position reading devices, to minimise the effect of host sampling jitter
on the control loops in LinuxCNC.

dpll.01.timer-us is the number of microseconds before (-numbers) or after (+numbers)
the nominal hardware read time that (likely the encoders) are sampled

Commenting out that line and the stepgen one below it did the trick. Motors respond on command.

That also got open-loop testing working in pncconf.

Thanks a ton, I really appreciate it.

did you try the 7i77xD2 config to get the loop working in stepconf
or how did you make it work
giving feedback may help others to setup the cheep china servo ETH system
without headbanging

I don't have a 7i77D(sinking) board and so wasn't interested in fighting that fight, so I left everything exactly as-is (7i77x2 firmware, no D), I just commented out those two lines in the hal file:

# setp hm2_7i92.0.dpll.01.timer-us -50
# setp hm2_7i92.0.stepgen.timer-number 1

On a side note, not sure why it generates a stepgen timer by default when it is a 7i77 analog firmware but easy enough fix.

The "D" in 7i92_7i77D.bit stands for DPLL (firmware for 7I77 and 7I77D is identical)

The

setp hm2_7i92.0.stepgen.timer-number 1

is a pncconf bug , for a 7I77 only configuration

setp hm2_7i92.0.encoder.timer-number 1

would be appropriate

Okay. With the 7i77x2D firmware loaded, and the 'stepgen' changed to 'encoder' in that second line as you said, it also loads the machine configuration just fine. No commenting out lines required, which I prefer.

Thanks