Open Network Forth (ONF)

 
 

Client: Maier-Leibnitz Laboratory (Accelerator Laboratory of Technology and the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich)

  • Development Period: 1992 - 2004 (in several stages)
  • Period of use: since 1992
  • Size of the code base: around 350,000 lines of code

The Accelerator Laboratory is a scientific institution, which is used for research and teaching in the field of particle physics and for applications of the natural sciences, technology and medicine. The main instrument is a tandem Van de Graaff linear accelerator. This has been in operation since 1970 and can accelerate particles up to 14 million volts DC.

Statement of the problem

The Tandem Van de Graaff linear accelerator is a highly complex instrument. Its operation requires a coordinated interplay of a large number of measuring and control devices and other hardware components. In these the operating variables are monitored, controllers and control processes parameterized and experimental data recorded.

The control of several 1,000 signals is undertaken by about 100 dual processor systems based on Z80/Z280 (known as the nodes), fitted to Eurocards in racks. The application software on the node is programmed in FORTH. The nodes are connected to each other and to about 10 to 20 desktop systems via ARCNET. Important tasks to be solved in this context are:

  • Connection and communication with the nodes from a PC,
  • Finding nodes in the network, allocation of equipment, name allocation
  • Control and data acquisition by devices connected with the nodes,
  • Provision of the nodes with application software and management FORTH source code,
  • Visualization, access and storage of device parameters (configuration)
  • Timing of data acquisition, visualization and storage of the data collected,
  • Centralized logging of node messages, dealing with alarms.

    • Our contribution

    FORTecH Software has developed Core function software and a large part of the application software for the desktop systems. Our services included, inter alia:

    • the design of the software structure in close consultation with staff of the accelerator laboratory, continuous adjustment over the entire project period,
    • the control of the ARCNET network adapter, and encapsulation of the higher protocol layers in a transport component (Windows Service)
    • the central logging of all events in the network (Windows Service)
    • a component suite for graphic visualization and input (components were reused in several projects)
    • the graphic visualization and modification of the status of several devices in a user interface (application),
    • a Software Component Deployment (Supply of the node computer with FORTH source code, database aided tracking of the configurations)
    • a graphic terminal application for the diagnosis and for developing and debugging the FORTH source code on the nodes
    • a database-aided recording and archiving of operational data
    • Porting and support of software across several generations of operating system (Win 3.1, WinNT, Win2000, WinXP, terminal server).