Dec9 Plesko microIOC

MicroIOC: A Simple Robust Platform for Integrating Devices: 

MicroIOC: A Simple Robust Platform for Integrating Devices Mark Pleško mark.plesko@cosylab.com

I Have A Dream: 

I Have A Dream Imagine a smart "black box" IOC: attach motors, serial and GPIB devices signals in, EPICS/CA out plug&play, no building, configuring, etc. Integrate devices right into EPICS or I/O for digital/analog signals and timing Use it stand-alone at accelerators, beam lines and other experimental systems

Some more explanations: : 

Some more explanations: This microIOC should be a black box for installation: with a built-in EPICS database already with preconfigured records everything must be very user friendly, with wizards, in a plug&play manner.. And made of standard components: an Ethernet 10/100 MBit connector an onboard linux/RTEMS processor a Web server for configuration and viewing Off-the-shelf parts to replace No moving parts (fan, disk) to break in first place

Possible Hardware Solutions: 

Possible Hardware Solutions normal PC Cheap and abundant, but... Not robust enough VME High reliability and flexibility, but... Expensive Embedded PC Cheap Can be made reliable (no disk/ fan, good PS)

Slide5: 

Enter microIOC small embedded computer interfacing different devices Motor & Control Ethernet Analog & Digital IO Ultra Low Power PoE – Power Over Ethernet Various IO Fanless & Diskless Small

What’s new about this?: 

What’s new about this? In principle, nothing All can be done with existing hardware The idea is to package everything together and make it easy to use, because there are many people, who don't have the time to learn how to install and use it in detail.

Implementation Details: 

Implementation Details dual Ethernet port allows to separate microIOCs and devices from the rest of the control system available with Linux and RTEMS operating systems and on request with vxWorks Giving resonable performance and realtime database can be persisted in flash, avoiding problems due to network failures hardware components of the microIOC are of high quality and have long life times PS has 500,000 h MTBF (55 years) by design, mechanical parts such as hard disks and fans are avoided

The Main User Features Are: : 

The Main User Features Are: completely stand-alone, no VME/PCI or boot PC necessary plug&play: configure IP (DHCP), connect cables and it works simple configuration through Web server, built-in EPICS db VDCT preconfigured db file for standard devices: PLCs, vacuum, timing, motor control and monochromators a simple wizard to configure record names and constants installed EDM, Java and Web-based panels for display and setting monitor system health upgrade management professional support and replacement contract as option lower price than a comparable VME system

microIOC SER-1: 

microIOC SER-1 First customer: SLS @ PSI In 2003

microIOC SER-1 for the SLS: 

microIOC SER-1 for the SLS

microIOC – Second Generation in 2004: 

microIOC – Second Generation in 2004 Dual Ethernet 8 serial ports Bootable Compact Flash

Slide13: 

Local Control of Motors

Possible Applications: 

Possible Applications Diskless booting – reduce boot-up time Massively distributed systems (array of telescopes) Integrate a few signals here and there (utilities) Integrate PLCs into EPICS isolate device Ethernet network from other IOCs EPICS hardware gateway Protocol converter: eg. Modbus - EPICS Allows equipment vendors to integrate EPICS Network sniffer/debugger, specially for CA Office desktop EPICS development/test system EPICS course hardware Replacement contracts 24h replacement shipping

Fanless Processors for Everybody: 

Fanless Processors for Everybody

DIN Rail Enclosure + PoE (Power Over Ethernet): 

DIN Rail Enclosure + PoE (Power Over Ethernet)

Conclusion: Is It Really Cost-Effective WRT VME?: 

Conclusion: Is It Really Cost-Effective WRT VME? Price per channel determined by Price of I/O Price of crate and supply A full VME crate is cost-effective, a nearly empty one is not! But the real value of the microIOC is in its simplicity and user-friendliness without compromising robustness.