Automatic generation of configuration files for a distributed control system

The CERN PS accelerator complex is composed of 9 interlinked accelerators for production and acceleration of various kinds of particles. The hardware is controlled through CAMAC, VME, G64, and GPIB modules, which in turn are controlled by more than 100 microprocessors in VME crates. To produce startup files for all these microprocessors, with the correct drivers, programs and parameters in each of them, is quite a challenge. The problem is solved by generating the startup files automatically from the description of the control system in a relational database. The generation process detects inconsistencies and incomplete information. Included in the startup files are data which are formally comments, but can be interpreted for run-time checking of interface modules and program activity

Integration of a Relational Database in the CERN PS Control System

The control system for the CERN 26 GEV Proton Synchrotron and its injectors is a generic system which can be adapted to other accelerators. Most configuration data are in a relational database. From these data we can generate object interfaces for equipment, configuration files for front-end computers, a read-only database for accelerator control interfacing, and full dynamic documentation on the Web. The database is also used in real time for runtime references and archives, and for the working data of several programs

A Directory Service for the CERN PS/SL Java Programming Interface

The CERN PS and SL accelerator control groups developed a common application programming interface (API) in Java [1]. Part of this API is a directory service that provides information about the underlying hardware and software. With this information it is possible to write generic programs that do general actions on lists of devices without hard coding of device names. And, starting from a device name, full details about related devices, the device itself and its class and properties, can be obtained, including the meaning of bits and bitpatterns in status words. The interface definition is independent of any implementation but a reference implementation is provided using Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) against a set of tables in a relational database. Data from very different systems can be brought together and presented in a uniform way to the user. The full potential of the directory service is reached when it is used in software components (Java Beans)

Model based, detailed fault analysis in the CERN PS complex equipment

In the CERN PS Complex of accelerators, about a thousand of equipment of various type (power converters, RF cavities, beam measurement devices, vacuum systems etc...) are controlled using the so-called Control Protocol, already described in previous Conferences. This Protocol, a model based equipment access standard, provides, amongst other facilities, a uniform and structured fault description and report feature. The faults are organized in categories, following their gravity, and are presented at two levels: the first level is global and identical for all devices, the second level is very detailed and adapted to the peculiarities of each single device. All the relevant information is provided by the equipment specialists and is appropriately stored in static and real time data bases; in this way a unique set of data driven application programs can always cope with existing and newly added equipment. Two classes of applications have been implemented, the first one is intended for control room alarm purposes, and the second one is oriented for specialists diagnostics. The system is completed by a fault history report facility permitting easy retrieval of faults previously occurred, for example during the night

A Framework for JAVA applications programs in the CERN PS control system

The user interface for a system controlling 5 inter-connected accelerators is composed of a large number of windows organized in a tree structure of application programs with a console manager at the top. All programs run in a single Java Virtual Machine (JVM) without interfering with each other. The windows show accelerator data and interaction widgets. A framework has been built to design these windows and make them interact and cooperate with a minimum of effort from the programmers. A project manager controls the life cycle of the programs, including use of templates and CVS [3]. Program development and execution can be done on both the Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms through files that are visible to both systems

The CERN PS/SL Controls Java Application Programming Interface

The PS/SL Convergence Project was launched in March 1998. Its objective is to deliver a common controls infrastructure for the CERN accelerators by year 2001. In the framework of this convergence activity, a project was launched to develop a Java Application Programming Interface (API) between programs written in the Java language and the PS and SL accelerator equipment. This Java API was specified and developed in collaboration with TJNAF. It is based on the Java CDEV [1] package that has been extended in order to end up with a CERN/TJNAF common product. It implements a detailed model composed of devices organised in named classes that provide a property-based interface. It supports data subscription and introspection facilities. The device model is presented and the capabilities of the API are described with syntax examples. The software architecture is also described