arXiv subjects

M. Sekoranja

Publications and source records attributed to M. Sekoranja.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2001

Experiences with advanced CORBA services

The Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) is successfully used in many control systems (CS) for data transfer and device modeling. Communication rates below 1 millisecond, high reliability, scalability, language independence and other features make it very attractive. For common types of applications like error logging, alarm messaging or slow monitoring, one can benefit from standard CORBA services that are implemented by third parties and save tremendous amount of developing time. We have started using few CORBA services on our previous CORBA-based control system for the light source ANKA [1] and use now several CORBA services for the ALMA Common Software (ACS) [2], the core of the control system of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array. Our experiences with the interface repository (IFR), the implementation repository, the naming service, the property service, telecom log service and the notify service from different vendors are presented. Performance and scalability benchmarks have been performed.

cs.PF↗

arXiv2001

Common Software for the ALMA project

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is a joint project between astronomical organizations in Europe, USA and Japan. ALMA will consist of at least 64 12-meter antennas operating in the millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength range, with baselines up to 10 km. It will be located at an altitude above 5000m in the Chilean Atacama desert[1]. The ALMA Common Software (ACS) provides a software infrastructure common to all partners and consists of a documented collection of common patterns in control systems and of components, which implement those patterns. The heart of ACS is an object model of controlled devices, called Distributed Objects (DOs), implemented as CORBA network objects. Components such as antenna mount, power supply, etc. are defined by means of DOs. A code generator creates Java Bean components for each DO. Programmers can write Java client applications by connecting those Beans with data-manipulation and visualization Beans using commercial visual development tools or programmatically. ACS is based on the experience accumulated with similar projects in the astronomical and particle accelerator contexts, reusing and extending concepts and components. Although designed for ALMA, ACS has the potential for being used in other new control systems and other distributed software projects, since it implements proven design patterns using state of the art, stable and reliable technology.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2001

Visual DCT - Visual EPICS Database Configuration Tool

Visual DCT is an EPICS configuration tool completely written in Java and therefore supported in various systems. It was developed to provide features missing in existing configuration tools as Capfast and GDCT. Visually Visual DCT resembles GDCT - records can be created, moved and linked, fields and links can be easily modified. But Visual DCT offers more: using groups, records can be grouped together in a logical block, which allows a hierarchical design. Additionally indication of data flow direction using arrows makes the design easier to understand. Visual DCT has a powerful DB parser, which allows importing existing DB and DBD files. Output file is also DB file, all comments and record order is preserved and visual data saved as comment, which allows DBs to be edited in other tools or manually. Great effort has been taken and many tricks used to optimize the performance in order to compensate for the fact that Java is an interpreted language.

cs.SE↗