The APS Control System Network Upgrade

When it was installed,the Advanced Photon Source (APS) control system network was at the state-of-the-art. Different aspects of the system have been reported at previous meetings [1,2]. As loads on the controls network have increased due to newer and faster workstations and front-end computers, we have found performance of the system declining and have implemented an upgraded network. There have been dramatic advances in networking hardware in the last several years. The upgraded APS controls network replaces the original FDDI backbone and shared Ethernet hubs with redundant gigabit uplinks and fully switched 10/100 Ethernet switches with backplane fabrics in excess of 20 Gbits/s (Gbps). The central collapsed backbone FDDI concentrator has been replaced with a Gigabit Ethernet switch with greater than 30 Gbps backplane fabric. Full redundancy of the system has been maintained. This paper will discuss this upgrade and include performance data and performance comparisons with the original network

The APS Control System Network

Abstract The APS accelerator control system is a distributed system consisting of operator interfaces, a network and computer-controlled interfaces to hardware. This implementation of a control system has come to be called the "Standard Model." The operator interface is a UNIX-based workstation with an X-windows graphical user interface. The workstation may be located at any point on the facility network and maintain full functionality. The function of the network is to provide a generalized communication path between the host computers, operator workstations, input/output crates and other hardware that comprise the control system. The crate or input/output controller (IOC) provides direct control and input/output interfaces for each accelerator subsystem. The network is an integral part of all modern control systems and network performance will determine many characteristics of a control system. This paper describes the overall APS network and examines the APS control system network in detail. Metrics are provided on the performance of the system under various conditions

Novel techniques for rapid bacteriological monitoring of drinking water

In the United Kingdom, the microbiological safety of drinking water supplies is currently assured by monitoring for the absence of the faecal indicator organisms, total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli. Monitoring work of this type makes up the bulk of the workload of the typical microbiology laboratory in the water industry. However, the most popular method, membrane filtration, imposes a delay of 18 hours to obtain a presumptive result, and can take up to 72 hours to provide a confirmed result. These delays are a handicap in giving a prompt response to incidents involving the contamination of water supplies. There is therefore a need for faster techniques which preserve the accuracy and reliability of the traditional methods. Fortunately, there are a number of new and rapid techniques for the labelling and detection of single bacterial cells, which could be adopted in the water industry for the enumeration of coliforms. Using these techniques, the requirement for culture of the bacteria can be avoided, and the test carried out in less than one working day. Techniques adequately to separate bacterial cells from water samples remain to be developed, although recent antibody-mediated separation systems seem very promising

An accelerator controls network designed for reliability and flexibility

The APS accelerator control system is a typical modern system based on the standard control system model, which consists of operator interfaces to a network and computer-controlled interfaces to hardware. The network provides a generalized communication path between the host computers, operator workstations, input/output crates, and other hardware that comprise the control system. The network is an integral part of all modern control systems and network performance will determine many characteristics of a control system. This paper describes the methods used to provide redundancy for various network system components as well as methods used to provide comprehensive monitoring of this network. The effect of archiving tens of thousands of data points on a regular basis and the effect on the controls network will be discussed. Metrics are provided on the performance of the system under various conditions

The APS control system network upgrade.

When it was installed,the Advanced Photon Source (APS) control system network was at the state-of-the-art. Different aspects of the system have been reported at previous meetings [1,2]. As loads on the controls network have increased due to newer and faster workstations and front-end computers, we have found performance of the system declining and have implemented an upgraded network. There have been dramatic advances in networking hardware in the last several years. The upgraded APS controls network replaces the original FDDI backbone and shared Ethernet hubs with redundant gigabit uplinks and fully switched 10/100 Ethernet switches with backplane fabrics in excess of 20 Gbits/s (Gbps). The central collapsed backbone FDDI concentrator has been replaced with a Gigabit Ethernet switch with greater than 30 Gbps backplane fabric. Full redundancy of the system has been maintained. This paper will discuss this upgrade and include performance data and performance comparisons with the original network

An overview of the information distribution system at the Advanced Photon Source

This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder