There are two copies of the CSRM that can be easily obtained. The first is a paper copy in a gray binder, located in the MCC control room. The document is massive, garnering it the TLA "DFH" (use your imagination). For this reason, it has been made available on the web at http://slac.stanford.edu/grp/ad/op/DFH/dfh-toc.html, so you can view it at your convenience rather than printing a huge paper copy for your office. ↑ top
Yes, there are many differences between the Web and paper copies of the CSRM. While the content is identical between the two versions, the Web version is an interactive document which contains active links, new data tables (as of revision 3), and it will soon have additional interactive features, including an error/suggestion submission system, as well as a fully linked index, and in the future you will be able to search the online CSRM. As the new Table of Contents found here shows, the goal of these features is to reduce the time it takes you to obtain the information you're looking for, as well as to more efficiently keep this important document up to date. If you have ever edited the database, written a panel file or button macro, saved a config file, or used Matlab in the control room, this document will be useful to you. ↑ top
The SLAC Control System Reference Manual used to be called the VAX and Control System Reference Manual. The title changed because SLAC has moved away from DEC's VAX machines (an ancient architecture, click here to learn more) to DEC's Alpha architectures (click here to learn more), as well as other operating systems such as Unix and Linux. The name change was requested by many operations staff over the years, and it now reflects the evolution of the control system. ↑ top
The DEC Alphas form the backbone of SLAC's current control system (2006), and Linux, Unix, and EPICS have become equally powerful utilities. In contrast to the old VAX operating system called VMS, SLAC now uses a more powerful OS called OpenVMS on two DEC Alpha nodes (MCC and MCCDEV). Although the DEC Alphas are an older architecture, the OpenVMS is a modern operating system. A new OpenVMS quick-guide has been written for operators, EOICs, and other MCC staff and it is located in Section 2.15. You can learn more about OpenVMS here. OpenVMS is a versitile operating system that is packed with features and usability and is - compared to Unix - relatively safe from intolerable data loss, at the cost of a syntax minefield. See the OpenVMS quick-guide for more information and examples. ↑ top
An Error Submission script is currently being written and will be released for Beta testing soon. You can find the service at this internal address (do not use this service outside of SLAC internal). Until the Beta is released, make a note of any errors or suggestions you have and submit them via email to C. Melton at cmelton@SLAC... with the subject "CSRM Errors". This page will be updated when the Beta is released. ↑ top
The current version of the SLAC CSRM is Revision 3. The previous version, called the VAX and Control System Reference Manual is Revision 2. See below for more information. The primary content changes of Revision 3, and the upcoming Revision 4, will be focused on the update, expansion, and correction of technical problems in the CMS, Database, Control System, Commonly Used Programs, and Operating System sections. Several minor changes such as formatting problems, missing information, type-Os, references, incorrect page and section numbers, and a slew of others have been made with the help of Cheryl Hultquist and the originator, Janice Nelson. These changes have been streamlined so that hopefully you will not even notice them. You can see a more complete description of Revision 3 notes in the Introduction. ↑ top
Yes. Per SLAC documentation procedures, all revisions - including Revision 2 - have been archived on disk through the ADDO Cheryl Hultquist (x4006). The editor C. Melton (x2390) also retains a disk copy of the previous revision (R002), as well as a paper copy of R002 in his office which he is using to improve future versions. You may borrow the paper copy of R002 at his request. If you have /afs access (do you? click here to learn more) you can find this documentation saved in the afs CSRM backup folder at: /afs/slac.stanford.edu/www/grp/ad/op/DFH/backup/. Most operating systems have a syntax for comparing two different text documents. They are: ↑ top
| Operating System | Comparison Utility / Procedure |
|---|---|
| Using Windows? | Use fc from the MSDOS command line. For help type fc/? at the prompt. |
| Using Unix? | Use diff at the command line. For help type man diff at the prompt. |
| Using OpenVMS? | Use DIFFERENCES at the command line. For help type HELP DIFFERENCES at the prompt. |
In the future, the Error/Suggestion submission script here will incorporate FAQ suggestions. Until then, to submit new questions for this FAQ regarding the Control System Reference Manual, send an email with your question(s) to cmelton@SLAC.stanford.edu with the subject "FAQ Submission." If the question is not already covered in this FAQ, it will be added. If you have a question regarding the Control System itself, consult the Control System Reference Manual here. ↑ top