As evidenced by the existence of this Web document, computing is of
ever-growing importance to our scientific community.
There are three families of computers available to users of the
James R. Macdonald Laboratory:
- We are introducing a new
Linux-based multi-parameter data acquisition
system to replace our aging VAX-VMS based XSYS system. There are now three
data acquisition workstations, named Boltzman, Wheeler and Condon. These
workstations connect to VME frontends, and via gigabit Ethernet to the central
Physics
Storage Area Network System
(SANs), which provides safe, massive data storage.
The next step will be the addition of remotely accessible Linux servers for
offline data analysis.
-
The VAX-VMS system software licenses expired in October 2006, and
our faithful old VaxStations are finally retired. Data acquisition and
analysis tasks have been performed on
Digital
VaxStation 4000s,
in concert with dedicated
Motorola MVME
single-card computer front ends
(running the
pSOSystem
real-time OS)
attached to
CAMAC or
VME electronics.
The XSYS
data acquisition system was used. An
XSYS & VAX VMS FAQ,
a VMEDAQ primer and a
complete VMEDAQ user's manual are available in
print and on-line, along with Kevin Carnes' introductory JRM DAQ
seminar PowerPoint presentation.
-
Scientific computing is provided by a network of
Scientific Linux clusters and workstations.
A wide variety of computing tools are provided by this system, along with access
to other KSU
computing resources
and to the Internet.
-
Finally, hordes of PC microcomputers are available for process control,
data reduction and presentation graphics work.
These PCs are part of a
Windows XP
network domain that provides system flexibility and ease of maintenance.
All basic services of our network are now provided by clustered servers
running Windows Server 2003. We are beginning a system-wide upgrade to
Windows Vista.
Users new to the system should consult the
New User's Guide for helpful hints and important
information.
All of these machine families are extensively networked together to
provide easy transfer of data and maintain maximum user productivity
and happiness. A campus-wide
wireless network
is now available, too.
In the event of user unhappiness with VAX/VMS/XSYS systems, contact
Kevin Carnes;
for JRM Lab PC support, contact
Vince Needham;
and finally, for general support or
for Sun/Unix/Linux problems, contact the Physics Computer Support Center
(PCSC).
We are also pleased to report that the JRM Lab was
Y2K-ready.
