1. A Review of EPICS tools for Scientists and Engineers Brian Martlew 24th September 2014

2. A brief history of EPICS
Review of architecture
EPICS Extensions
Choosing the right option

3. EPICS Timeline Late 1980s Ground Test Accelerator – LANL
Early 1990s LANL + APS form collaboration
January 1994 First official release
Mid 1990s CEBAF converts to EPICS
DESY & BESSY becomes first European users
Widely adopted (100 licenses in 2004)
2002 Cross platform support V3.14
2004 Becomes an open source project
EPICS V4

4. EPICS Overview EDM Archiver Python Client Client EDM Channel Access
7/22/2018
EPICS Overview
EDM
Archiver
Python
Client
Client
EDM
Channel Access
Server
IOC
IOC
IOC
Meter
Power Supply
Camera

5. EPICS Architecture

8. EDM

9. Channel Archiver

10. Strip Tool

11. Control System Studio

12. Sequencer Implements Finite State Machines Runs in IOC
program level_check float v; assign v to "Input_voltage"; monitor v; short light; assign light to "Indicator_light"; ss volt_check { state light_off { when (v > 5.0) { /* turn light on */ light = TRUE; pvPut(light); } state light_on } state light_on { when (v < 5.0) { /* turn light off */ light = FALSE; } state light_off
Implements Finite State Machines
Runs in IOC
Tightly integrated with I/O
State Notation Language
Needs detailed knowledge of IOC configuration

14. CA_Lab
Developed by BESSY II
Client only
Lightweight
High performance

15. NI Support Requires DSC Module Client and server
Server has limited functionality
Limited support

17. OpenXAL Developed by SNS Written in Java
Online Accelerator Physics Modelling

19. Also… .NET Developed by Graham Cox C#, C++, VB.NET
Full CA functionality
Intelligent widgets

20. Choosing the Right Option
EPICS philosophy is that all control logic and operation takes place in the IOC. Clients are only used for UI, complex processing and long-term storage.
Which OS?
Will the application have to be installed on a different machine?
Licensing?
Supported?
Compatibility?
Can we agree on a small sub-set of extensions?