Real-time data-acquisition within a standard UNIX environment: Advantages of a divide-and-conquer strategy

UNIX based workstations offer excellent tools for software development but are ill equipped for data-acquisition. Coupling of UNIX workstations with additional processors dedicated to measurement activities is feasible. In this way, using standard UNIX, real-time response can be achieved especially when little steering of the acquisition is necessary. Essential ingredients for this are an abstract description of the acquisition process and in most cases a dedicated processor for the actual acquisition. Some approaches are discussed and illustrated with setups used for among others proton induced X-ray emission measurements. Some realizations of virtual instruments are discussed