Modern operators´ consoles for accelerator control at Fermilab

Since the construction of the Tevatron, the Fermilab accelerator complex has been controlled from operators´ consoles based on PDP-11 computers and interaction with display hardware via CAMAC. In addition, the linac has been controllable from microprocessor-based local consoles. The new generation of console devices is based on VAXstation computers, networked by Ethernet and Token Ring, and utilizes the X-Windows protocol. Under X, the physical display (server) can be driven by any network node, and need not be part of the console computer (client). This allows great flexibility in configuring display devices, with X-terminals, UNIX workstations, and Macintoshes all having been utilized. Over half of the 800 application programs on the system have been demonstrated to work properly in the new environment. The modern version of a linac local console runs in a Macintosh. These are networked via Token Ring to linac local control stations. They provide color graphics and a hard copy capability which was previously lacking.<>