Control system software
The control system uses EPICS and VxWorks on MVME2304 and VME64x this configuration is the standard EPICS IOC (Input Output Controller).
New developments are now moving towards MVME5500 processors and also using LINUX DEL servers deployed as IOC.
Console specification
ALICE is controlled via synoptic displays created using EDM and hosted on two Scientific Linux PCs each with two wide screen displays.
Typical control displays
Control system hardware
Industry Pack modules are extensively used in the IOC's giving the most flexible approach for an experimental accelerator.
In house designed CANbus status control module modules are used for all the on/off equipment control and interlock protection. The status system is driven at the EPICS record level this gives complete flexibility of interlock control.
A remote equipment room houses the majority of the control equipment allowing access when the machine is operational.
To enable the control system to grow each equipment bay was designated a control station with 50% capacity unused
Specification for control stations
| Control Station | Type | Location | Serves |
|---|
| CS1A | MVME2304 Serial Only | Rack Room | Injector All, Radiation Monitors, 500Kv Gun PSU, Parker 6K motors |
| CS1B | MVME2304 Status & Analogue | Rack Room | Injector, Cryo, diagnostics, PSU’s |
| CS2A | MVME2304 Serial Only | Rack Room | Straight 1, BPM Calibration & Switching |
| CS2B | MVME2304 Status & Analogue | Rack Room | Straight 1, Arc 1 All, RF Control, Cryo heaters, |
| CS3 | MVME2304 Status & Analogue | Rack Room | Straight 2, THZ beamline EO Beamline, RF analogues |
| CS4 | MVME2304 Status & Analogue | Rack Room | Straight 3, Straight 4, Arc 2, CBS Beamline, RF 50Kv PSU |
| CS5 | MVME2304 Serial Only | Laser Room | Laser |
| CS6A | MVME5500 Serial Only | Rack Room | CBS motors, EO motors, ST3 OTR |
| CS6B | MVME2304 Status & Analogue | Rack Room | FEL |
Control and PSU equipment racks
Control system servers
Server 1 - Red Hat 9 Linux Server - All IOC boot files Including VxWorks and EPICS databases.
Server 2 - Red Hat 9 Linux Server - Archive server.
Server 3 - scientific Linux Server - New developments, EMMA, FEL and CBS.
Personnel safety system
The Personnel Safety System is a dual guard line relay logic system also controlled by EPICS, MVME2304 and VxWorks.
Personnel safety displays and equipment rack
