ORNL, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Learning from our experience with the standard EPICS alarm handler (ALH) as well as a similar intermediate approach based on script-generated operator screens, we developed the Best Ever Alarm System Toolkit (BEAST). It is based on Java and Eclipse on the Control System Studio (CSS) platform, using a relational database (RDB) to store the configuration and log actions. It employs a Java Message Service (JMS) for communication between the modular pieces of the toolkit, which include an Alarm Server to maintain the current alarm state, an arbitrary number of Alarm Client user interfaces (GUI), and tools to annunciate alarms or log alarm related actions. Web reports allow us to monitor the alarm system performance and spot deficiencies in the alarm configuration. The Alarm Client GUI not only gives the end users various ways to view alarms in tree and table, but also makes it easy to access the guidance information, the related operator displays and other CSS tools. It also allows online configuration to be simply modified from the GUI. Coupled with a good "alarm philosophy" on how to provide useful alarms, we can finally improve the configuration to achieve an effective alarm system.
ORNL, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
ORNL RAD, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Project is continuing on its path towards high reliability. To help ensure that this happens, the SNS Controls Group has developed many new applications for use with Control System Studio (CSS). These applications are different in functionality and somewhat in implementation. The ELog integration, PACE, Alarm System GUI, and Data Browser updates are some of the applications that are generic in nature and designed to be implemented regardless of the institution. The PV Utility, Fields Viewer, and Rack Viewer were designed specifically for use at SNS but allow for additions and use elsewhere. The use of CSS provides a common interface to the users. CSS also provides developers with the ability to build their applications and use the various CSS-data types. End users benefit because the use of the CSS-data types provides a connection between the different applications at run-time. This paper describes the recent applications that have been developed at SNS and discusses plans for the future.