def restart_asp():
    # remove no restart file, to make sure a restart occurs
    asp.remove_stop_file()
    asp.stop_amf()
def stop_watchdog():
    stopFile = asp.get_asp_run_dir() + '/' + asp.SAFPLUS_STOP_FILE 
    touch(stopFile)    # create restart file to prevent improper asp going down
    asp.stop_amf()