Thursday 10 April and Friday 11 April 2025 are reserved for workshop or training sessions. The following workshops or training sessions are planned but are subject to confirmation at this time. A detailed timetable will follow.
EPICS 7 Overview
Demo of using PVAccess with IOCs and C++ applications. You can follow along using a training-VM.
OPC UA Device Support
Using the same training-VM, this session demonstrates the workflow for connecting an IOC to field devices using OPC UA.
Phoebus Workgroup
The Phoebus developers session will focus on planning upcoming development efforts, including new features, core infrastructure improvements, documentation, training resources, and DevOps strategies.
Phoebus Middleware Training
This training session will focus on setting up and using server-side middleware to support Phoebus clients. It will include topics such as the EPICS Archiver Appliance, Save-and-Restore service, and alarm logging.
EPICS in Containers
epics-containers is an open source framework that applies modern industry best practice for software delivery to the management of EPICS IOCs.
This workshop will include:-
- An introduction to the epics-containers framework with examples demonstrating how to build and manage containerised IOCs
- A demonstration of a test Beamline at DLS running in Kubernetes, with details of the features Kubernetes orchestration adds.
- Time for open discussion
- An introduction to the online tutorials that teach the fundamentals of epics-containers
Documentation is available at https://epics-containers.github.io/
µTCA Working Group
MicroTCA is becoming one of the prevalent choices for new or upgrades to existing Accelerator Control and Beam Instrumentation Systems. MicroTCA has been in use for over a decade in multiple facilities around the world, but still has a steep startup learning curve that can be daunting. In this session topics covered will help to ease those pains and introduce others to the benefits of MicroTCA. The basics that will be covered include system overview, MicroTCA Shelf Management, Point-to-Point links, timing distribution across the backplane and PCIe integration. Also due to this being an EPICS event focus will be given for Data Streaming for AMCs and crate management/diagnostics through IPMI via EPICS. Some advanced topics that will also be added as time permits includes MicroTCA.4 details and hardware design related to MicroTCA.4 specifications. As with working group sessions time for discussion and idea sharing will be provided as well.
Bluesky
This workshop will introduce frameworks for experiment control and data acquisition. Participants will learn about hardware abstraction, experiment execution with the Bluesky, and data handling. The session includes hands-on exercises using a simulated environment. Examples will cover device instantiation with Ophyd and Ophyd Async, the use of RunEngine to execute experimental plans, modifying metadata, and data access with Tiled. The session will end with an example of experiment orchestration.
EPICS Cyber Security
Overview
Secure PVAccess (SPVA) is the new version of the PVAccess protocol which supports TLS for secure communication.
It maintains the same basic operations (GET, PUT, MONITOR, and RPC) as PVA, but with the addition of Transport Layer Security, and Certificate Management.
The Secure PVAccess Workshops will be spread over two days
General
Thursday will present SPVA from the perspective of those interacting with Secure PVAccess but not directly involved in installation or configuration. It’s aimed at users who will participate in SPVA-related policy decisions, adapting workflows and practices due to its implementation. We’ll focus on practical implications rather than technical setups.
Friday will focus on EPICS network administrators, integrators, developers, and those directly involved in installing, configuring, and maintaining SPVA. It’s a technical workshop/training session, guiding attendees through hands-on setups in their own environments. Participants will follow along, working directly in terminals, editing configuration files, and reviewing code.
Timing
The goal of the workshop is an introduction to the White Rabbit technology, focusing on the main uses it can provide for particle accelerators. To achieve this, our partners Safran are planning a workshop that will include the following points:
- A general explanation of White Rabbit (how it works and the features it offers).
- The types of equipment that can form a White Rabbit network (primarily focused on particle accelerators).
- Use cases (mentioning UKRI development).
- Hands-on session where we will bring some equipment and conduct a small demo.
Timing 2
The workshop will provide a short introduction to the MRF timing system, updates on the recent developments and a live demonstration of the central features of the system, and how to use them from the EPICS interface.
Motion Control
Discussion of motion related applications, motion controllers, and hard- and software used in the community.
OAC-Tree
Demonstration of oac-tree, a software framework for Operation, Automation and Control, based on behaviour trees. Examples and exercises will be provided using the training-VM
Tours
Tours of the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Central Laser Facility, and Diamond Light Source are planned.
