ICALEPCS2013 - List of Authors (Wozniak, J.P.)

Paper

Title

Page

How to Successfully Renovate a Controls System? - Lessons Learned from the Renovation of the CERN Injectors’ Controls Software

43

G. Kruk, S. Deghaye, O. Kulikova, V.V. Lezhebokov, M. Pace, P. Pera Mira, E. Roux, J.P. Wozniak
CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Renovation of the control system of the CERN LHC injectors was initiated in 2007 in the scope of the Injector Controls Architecture (InCA) project. One of its main objectives was to homogenize the controls software across CERN accelerators and reuse as much as possible the existing modern sub-systems, such as the settings management used for the LHC. The project team created a platform that would permit coexistence and intercommunication between old and new components via a dedicated gateway, allowing a progressive replacement of the former. Dealing with a heterogeneous environment, with many diverse and interconnected modules, implemented using different technologies and programming languages, the team had to introduce all the modifications in the smoothest possible way, without causing machine downtime. After a brief description of the system architecture, the paper discusses the technical and non-technical sides of the renovation process such as validation and deployment methodology, operational applications and diagnostic tools characteristics and finally users’ involvement and human aspects, outlining good decisions, pitfalls and lessons learned over the last five years.

Slides MOCOBAB05 [1.746 MB]

MOPPC069

Operational Experience with the LHC Software Interlock System

258

L. Ponce, J. Wenninger, J.P. Wozniak
CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

The Software Interlock System (SIS) is a JAVA software project developed for the CERN accelerators complex. The core functionality of SIS is to provide a framework to program high level interlocks based on the surveillance of a large number of accelerator device parameters. The interlock results are exported to trigger beam dumps, inhibit beam transfers or abort the main magnets powering. Since its deployment in 2008, the LHC SIS has demonstrated that it is a reliable solution for complex interlocks involving multiple or distributed systems and when quick solutions for un-expected situations is needed. This paper is presenting the operational experience with software interlocking in the LHC machine, reporting on the overall performance and flexibility of the SIS, mentioning the risks when SW interlocks are used to patch missing functionalities for personal safety or machine protection.

Poster MOPPC069 [0.323 MB]

MOPPC142

Groovy as Domain-specific Language (DSL) in Software Interlock System

443

J.P. Wozniak, G. Kruk, M. Polnik
CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

The SIS, in operation since over 7 years, is a mission-critical component of the CERN accelerator control system, covering areas from general machine protection to diagnostics. The growing number of instances and the size of the existing installations have increased both the complexity and maintenance cost of running the SIS infrastructure. Also the domain experts have considered the XML and Java mixture for configuration as difficult and suitable only for software engineers. To address these issues, new ways of configuring the system have been investigated aiming at simplifying the process by making it faster, more user-friendly and adapted for a wider audience. From all the existing DSL choices (fluent Java APIs, external/internal DSLs), the Groovy scripting language has been considered as being particularly well suited for writing a custom DSL due to its built-in language features: Java compatibility, native syntax constructs, command chain expressions, hierarchical structures with builders, closures or AST transformations. This paper explains best practices and lessons learned while building the accelerators domain-oriented DSL for the configuration of the interlock system.

Poster MOPPC142 [0.510 MB]

Paper	Title	Page
MOCOBAB05	How to Successfully Renovate a Controls System? - Lessons Learned from the Renovation of the CERN Injectors’ Controls Software	43
	G. Kruk, S. Deghaye, O. Kulikova, V.V. Lezhebokov, M. Pace, P. Pera Mira, E. Roux, J.P. Wozniak CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
	Renovation of the control system of the CERN LHC injectors was initiated in 2007 in the scope of the Injector Controls Architecture (InCA) project. One of its main objectives was to homogenize the controls software across CERN accelerators and reuse as much as possible the existing modern sub-systems, such as the settings management used for the LHC. The project team created a platform that would permit coexistence and intercommunication between old and new components via a dedicated gateway, allowing a progressive replacement of the former. Dealing with a heterogeneous environment, with many diverse and interconnected modules, implemented using different technologies and programming languages, the team had to introduce all the modifications in the smoothest possible way, without causing machine downtime. After a brief description of the system architecture, the paper discusses the technical and non-technical sides of the renovation process such as validation and deployment methodology, operational applications and diagnostic tools characteristics and finally users’ involvement and human aspects, outlining good decisions, pitfalls and lessons learned over the last five years.
	Slides MOCOBAB05 [1.746 MB]

MOPPC069	Operational Experience with the LHC Software Interlock System	258
	L. Ponce, J. Wenninger, J.P. Wozniak CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
	The Software Interlock System (SIS) is a JAVA software project developed for the CERN accelerators complex. The core functionality of SIS is to provide a framework to program high level interlocks based on the surveillance of a large number of accelerator device parameters. The interlock results are exported to trigger beam dumps, inhibit beam transfers or abort the main magnets powering. Since its deployment in 2008, the LHC SIS has demonstrated that it is a reliable solution for complex interlocks involving multiple or distributed systems and when quick solutions for un-expected situations is needed. This paper is presenting the operational experience with software interlocking in the LHC machine, reporting on the overall performance and flexibility of the SIS, mentioning the risks when SW interlocks are used to patch missing functionalities for personal safety or machine protection.
	Poster MOPPC069 [0.323 MB]

MOPPC142	Groovy as Domain-specific Language (DSL) in Software Interlock System	443
	J.P. Wozniak, G. Kruk, M. Polnik CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
	The SIS, in operation since over 7 years, is a mission-critical component of the CERN accelerator control system, covering areas from general machine protection to diagnostics. The growing number of instances and the size of the existing installations have increased both the complexity and maintenance cost of running the SIS infrastructure. Also the domain experts have considered the XML and Java mixture for configuration as difficult and suitable only for software engineers. To address these issues, new ways of configuring the system have been investigated aiming at simplifying the process by making it faster, more user-friendly and adapted for a wider audience. From all the existing DSL choices (fluent Java APIs, external/internal DSLs), the Groovy scripting language has been considered as being particularly well suited for writing a custom DSL due to its built-in language features: Java compatibility, native syntax constructs, command chain expressions, hierarchical structures with builders, closures or AST transformations. This paper explains best practices and lessons learned while building the accelerators domain-oriented DSL for the configuration of the interlock system.
	Poster MOPPC142 [0.510 MB]