Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

Heinrich du Toit <[email protected]> · Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:14:25 +0200

Ok sorry :)

It's sort of a 2-step problem I guess.
Step 1 is that we need to monitor/read/aquire some data.
Some of it is analog (Voltages) and some are just binary lines (on/off)
So for step 1 we need some hardware that can read this into a computer.
NI cards will do. (There ain't much chance I can get VME crates in here,
don't ask me why, I just can't)

Then Step 2 is that we need to save this data over long periods of time.
This is why I think something like the archiver can work. Maybe SDDS
stuff even? I haven't looked at that.
And then off course we want to get back that saved data and display it
and analyze it to make certain conclusions. 

This isn't really my project, I'm just helping another guy out.

On Tue, 2007-07-24 at 09:01 -1000, Maren Purves wrote:
> Hi Heinrich,
> 
> I'm having a bit of difficulty  with your email because to me
> data acquisition and archiving are fairly disjunct issues.
> 
> In my experience the channel archiver is a wonderful tool (even if
> we still largely use an older version), and it allows you to
> archive whatever channel from whatever board.
> 
> As data acquisition goes, depending on what you're trying to do,
> if it's serial lines, what's wrong with just using devices
> plugged into terminal servers? - We mostly use extra VME boards
> only for more special things (like e.g. b016 boards for array
> controllers, and in some cases have used custom mezzanine boards
> built by instrument builders)
> 
> ?
> 
> Aloha,
> Maren
> 
> Heinrich du Toit wrote:
> > Hello
> > 
> > We have a project were we want to monitor some values (some analog some
> > digital)
> > This is mostly for archiving and then later reviewing to determine if
> > equipment is working as it should over longer periods of time.
> > Also to try and determine if some equipment would need to be replaced
> > ahead of the time when failure occurs.
> > 
> > So far we've considered the national instruments cards. As they can do
> > all the I/O we require. 
> > They are also fairly easy to interface using DotNet.
> > But there is already a channel archiver for EPICS which I think is worth
> > using maybe?
> > I know there are some Linux drivers for NI cards. Haven't looked at them
> > yet.
> > 
> > But maybe there is some other card or system I can consider for this
> > project?
> > 
> > Thanks for your time
> > -Heinrich
> > 
> 

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System