Cumulus.ini (Beta)

Introduction

The main cumulus.ini configuration file is located in the directory in which you installed Cumulus.exe. It is a text file containing initialization parameters used by the Cumulus application, and is read only when Cumulus starts up. Parameter lines are in the form 'attribute=value' and grouped into sections. Cumulus re-writes the contents of the application configuration screens to the file when it shuts down.

Each new version of cumulus may add additional parameters set by revised configuration screens (these initially appear at the end of the relevant section), and/or permit additional parameters to be added manually (these can be inserted anywhere within the section). If you are using an old version, then checking the release information may be advisable to identify the sections applicable to your build and the parameters allowed within those sections may be a subset of those listed below.

Live Version

See cumulus.ini for list of sections, attributes and allowed values for the current live version of Cumulus. Below is a list of the additional items available in this beta version. These details will be explained fully and transferred to the main page when the beta version becomes 'live'.

Beta builds

If you are using a beta build, there may be additional sections and/or additional parameters (attribute=value) under test. Brief details of such changes will be given in the support forum announcement for the relevant build. Once such changes seem established they should be added here.

Currently, this page reflects some changes in MX version as notified in the forum, if you are using MX and find something missing from here, please add it (or post request in forum).

File Contents

Introduction

The entries shown include the default value from the configuration screen where applicable, a typical example value where appropriate, or just the attribute and an equals sign where there is no typical value.

Section: MySQL

Cumulus MX uses Cumulus.ini to store the MySQL configuration details. All details are input on The MySQL settings screen. This is a beta introduction still being tested, please check release information for latest.

Section: Station

Cumulus MX builds only. Edit file with Cumulus MX stopped.

Parameter Line Entry	Function
[Station]	Section name - the following parameters relate to the station configuration.
ComportName=/dev/ttyUSB0	This parameter (attribute=value) can be added directly to the file, it does also appear on the user interface screen. You can set the serial port name in the MX user interface, but if for some reason you want to do it by editing Cumulus.ini, note that the item in MX is called ComportName (which is a string, for the full device name, e.g. COM1 or /dev/ttyUSB0) rather than 'Port' which is just an integer.
Logging=0	This parameter (attribute=value) can be added directly to the file, it does also appear on the user interface screen. Note that if set on the user interface, it only remains set while Cumulus MX continues to run (as in Cumulus 1, it defaults to off on restart). 0 (default) = Cumulus MX will not add debug logging. 1 = For debug logging when Cumulus MX (re-)starts, add Logging=1 to the station section of Cumulus.ini. NB - this parameter also appears in Cumulus 1 list, repeated here for those looking up datalogging=1 parameter below.

Davis family specific:

NOT AVAILABLE IN CUMULUS MX - at time of writing "RestartIfDataStops" is not available

Parameter Line Entry	Function
[Station]	Section name - the following parameters relate to the station configuration.
UseDavisLoop2=1	This parameter (attribute=value) is added directly to the file, it does not appear on a configuration screen. The current MX code uses LOOP2 for two purposes. First, it uses the 'peak 10-minute gust' value, to avoid the problem where a gust might be missed, and secondly it uses the 'absolute pressure' value to make calculation of 'altimeter pressure' easier and more accurate. This is mainly used if you upload to CWOP. 1 (default) = Cumulus MX will use the LOOP2 packet for Davis Weather Stations by default. The LOOP2 packet is supported on the VP2 with firmware version 1.90 or later, and on the Vue. 0 = Select this if you have a Vantage Pro (i.e. the original 'VP1'), or a VP2 with pre-1.90 firmware, or if you are using Virtual VP, none of these support the LOOP2 packet. With this setting, Cumulus will revert to calculating the 10-minute gust value itself from the individual wind speed readings, but it will not currently attempt to calculate altimeter pressure correctly, it will simply use the sea-level pressure instead. This is likely to be an issue if you are at high altitude and you upload to CWOP using Cumulus MX.
DavisIPResponseTime=500	This parameter (attribute=value) is added directly to the file, it does not appear on a configuration screen. The length of time in milliseconds which Cumulus waits to allow a response from the console to a command (i.e. a request for any kind of data) from an IP logger . Default is 500ms, see Cumulus MX forum where times up to 2000ms are suggested.
ForceVPBarUpdate=0	This parameter (attribute=value) is added directly to the file, it does not appear on a configuration screen. The default (value=0) is to assume standard barometer updates on Davis stations. Set to 1, by adding ForceVPBarUpdate=1 in [Station] section to force more frequent barometer updates on Davis stations. Steve says "Having checked the code, I see it asks for 20 packets from the 'LOOP2' if the barometer forcing is on, otherwise it stops receiving LOOP data after 50 packets". Added in build 3042 (January 2017). Note that ForceVPBarUpdate=1 is only useful on very old versions of the console firmware.
VPrainGaugeType=0	This parameter (attribute=value) is added directly to the file, it does not appear on a configuration screen. The default is to assume that people using MM units to display rain in Cumulus have a Metric Rain Adapter fitted to their rain gauge so it tips for every 0.2mm, and those selecting inches as their unit have the unmodified 0.01" rain gauge. This parameter over-rides that assumption, but note that conversion rounding errors will then occur. Specifies the units selected on your Vantage Pro Rain Gauge. Set to 0 for a 0.2mm gauge and 1 for a 0.01" gauge.
DataLogging=0	This parameter (attribute=value) is added directly to the file, it does not appear on a configuration screen. 0 (default) = Cumulus MX will not add extra logging. 1 = To add extra logging to the diags file for data received from Davis stations. Use this with care, the log will get very large. (Build 3018 onwards). I've also added some more diagnostics to try to find the cause of the problem where data stops being read from Davis stations. Debug logging is required to be turned on. (Build 3022 onwards).

Section: Offsets

No changes.

Section: Web Site

No changes.

Section: FTP site

In Cumulus MX the user interface is used for changing parameters that are selected via the configuration menu in Cumulus 1.

Section: Display

No changes.

Section: Graphs

No changes.

Section: Alarms

No changes.

Sections dealing with interfaces to external sites

No changes.

Section: NOAA

No changes.

Section: Solar

No changes.

Section: MainForm

No changes.

Section: Proxies

No changes