Group of developers:

Kirilov A.S., Murashkevich S.M., Petukhova Т.B., Yudin V.E.

We are grateful to:

Heinitz J., Litvinenko E.I., Prickhodko V.I., Nikiforov A.S., Sirotin A.P., Korobchenko M.L., Levchanovski F.V., Drozdov V.A., Butenko V.A.

Software complex Sonix (SOftware for Neutron Instruments on X11 base) was initially developed for the Neutron Spectrometer with High Resolution(for VME-computer in the OS-9environment) at the IBR-2 reactor. Since that it was significantly improved and installed at the most IBR-2 instruments. FLNP.

1995. The first control system based on the modular VME-computer with operational system OS-9 has been created at the NSHR diffractometer at the IBR-2 reactor. The NSHR complex is organized as a community of X-clients implemented on the base of X11/OS-9 package. Simple script interpreter was included. 1997-1998. Complex is installed at SKAT, NERA-PR and Epsilon instruments. 1999-2002. Complex was modified greatly and installed at YuMO, DN-2, SPN, DN-12, FSD and HRFD instruments.

Main improvements are:

• former X-clients were separated into “resident” and “interface” parts;
• use of a real time database (Varman from IRI TU Delft) for module communication;
• script language enhancements.

A script file is provided. Script interpreter is Modules have two modes: ‘manual’ and ‘auto’ for script control A local version is the same as distributed Clients are configured by a common configuration file.

• The VME computer is used for the whole job
• The complex has modular structure. Each module completely controls a single spectrometer unit (goniometer etc.)
• GUI modules (interfaces) were separated
• The inter-client communication is implemented with Varman real time database(Varman)
• Clients are configured by a common configuration file.
• Modules have two modes: ‘manual’ and ‘auto’ for script control
• A local version is the same as distributed
• In case of fatal error system automatically restarted to continue mesurement
• Private script generators and tuning programs are present

PC(Windows) vs. VME(OS-9)

• Using PC with Windows for instrument control reduces the overall costs of the system
• Users are more experienced with the Windows environment
• Many useful software products are available

Sonix disadvantages

• GUI - many windows to control complicated systems
• No common protocol for module communication
• The script language is rather poor
• The configuration file is too complicated to edit manually

• In 2003 – Sonix+ was initiated
• In 2004 – It was installed at NERA-PR?, REMUR and YuMO instruments (IBR-2)
• In 2005 – Versions for YuMO (IBR-2) and DSD (Yekaterinburg) instruments are ready to use
• In 2007 - the complex was installed at the GEK3 и GEK5 instriuments(Obninsk) and MOND instrument (Moscow, Kurchatov institute)

• The user works with devices not with modules
• Creating virtual devices and representing several devices as a single device became possible
• Module (device) communication is completely standardized
• Python is used as the script language
• Clog file are included
• Two data format are used: internal format for storing of intermediate data, user format - for final accumulation
• GUI is unified and became more convenient
• Visualization of the data from is included point, 1D и 2D detectors were included
• The complex is implemented in the Windows environment

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— AK 9.09.2009