JLab discriminator

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Revision as of 12:52, 12 January 2012 by Nerses (Talk | contribs) (Intallation and usage)

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There is a Hall-B page for JLab discriminator

Manuals

Manual for 16-Channel Discriminator/Scaler VME Module (by J.Proffit), 20-Nov-2002, in (pdf)
Manual for New 16-Channel Discriminator/Scaler VME Module (draft by Ben Raydo), 6-Mar-2009, in (pdf)
Manual for New 16-Channel Discriminator/Scaler VME Module (rev.B by Ben Raydo), 28-May-2010, in (pdf)
Manual for New 16-Channel Discriminator/Scaler VME Module (rev.C by Ben Raydo), 11-Feb-2011, in (pdf)

Linux VME support

Brian Moffit from CODA group has setup a directory for software for Intel based VME controllers running Linux. README there is a good introduction to the subject.

/site/coda/2.6.1/extensions/linuxvme

RPMs for VME controllers running Linux located in the directory

/site/coda/2.6.1/extensions/linuxvme/RPMS

Available files are:

gefvme-kmod-common-4.1-0.i386.rpm (Development files)
kmod-gefvme-PAE*.rpm (Kernel module)

To install the development RPM without kernel module will require the --nodeps option

rpm -i --nodeps gefvme-kmod-common-4.1-0.i386.rpm

A simple example program using driver by Brian Moffit

#include "dsc2.h"
int main(){
 vmeOpenDefaultWindows(); /* Map the VME bus memory (For Linux only.). */
 dsc2Init(0xe00000,0,1);  /* Base memory: Only last 2 HW switches are relevant, 
                             the rest are lost due to shift of address. */
                          /* Memory size per board. */
                          /* Number of boards. */
 dsc2Status(0,0);         /* Board number and flag which is not used. */
 dsc2PrintScalers(0,0xff);/* Board number and printing option */
 return(0);
}

Installation and usage

The software is part of Hall-D epics configuration. It could be downloaded using the following command:

svn co https://halldsvn.jlab.org/repos/trunk/controls/epics

From there make sure You have these 2 directories.

https://halldsvn.jlab.org/repos/trunk/controls/epics/app/JLabDiscr_subApp 
https://halldsvn.jlab.org/repos/trunk/controls/epics/app/iocBoot/iocJLabDiscr_sub

Of course it is better to download the whole epics directory and You'll have the environment configuration and EPICS If You don't have those directories use svn to check them out (i.e. svn co <URL>). Then You should compile using make command.

Scalers readout preliminary driver

The current scheme of data flow is the following (from top to down):

VME bus
dsc2.c
mutex-ed access to the hardware
JLabDiscr.c::JLabDiscrReadTask()
a separate thread to poll scalers every
second and stores them in the memory
EPICS Scan Task
will periodically start a record processing
JLabDiscr_subrecord.c
will copy from memory and push to CA server
EPICS CA Server will broardcast

Other supplemental files are:

  • JLabDiscr_subMain.cpp -- The standard main program
  • JLabDiscr_subConfig.c -- hooks for EPICS
  • JLabDiscr_subConfig.dbd, JLabDiscr_subrecord.dbd -- DBD files
  • dbJLabDiscr.db -- DB file

The output

The output is accessible via PV hallddisc1:JLabDiscr. It has a type of aSubRecord.

Its INPA field setups the card number (Will be configured once during IOC initilaztion).
The VALA is an array of 16 contains scalers of gated triggers.
The VALB is an array of 16 contains scalers of gated TDC values.
The VALC is an array of 16 contains scalers of ungated triggers.
The VALD is an array of 16 contains scalers of ungated TDC values.
The VALE is a signle scalers of gated reference clock.
The VALF is a signle scalers of ungated reference clock.

Instalation

NOTE: The location of files and installation instructions are subject to change. Check back frequently to check the most up-to-date information.

Files are in the directory and subsequent directories: /group/halld/Online/controls/epics/app_nerses

configure
place for include make files
iocBoot
Boot configurations for IOC-es
iocBoot/iocJLabDiscr_sub
Boot configuration directory for JLab Discriminator. The boot configuration is in the file st.cmd
db
Installed DB files directory. Original files are from *App/Db directory.
dbd
Installed DBD files directory. Original files are from *App/src directory.
bin/linux-x86
Installed binaries
lib/linux-x86
Installed libraries
JLabDiscr_subApp/src
Development source files
JLabDiscr_subApp/Db
Original DB files directory