Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

Hello Max

We (ELI Beamlines, Prague) are using the hybrid architecture for laser beamlines control. Recently, we published a paper which presents this and other details of our laser controls:
http://icalepcs.synchrotron.org.au/papers/tud3o02.pdf
http://icalepcs.synchrotron.org.au/talks/tud3o02_talk.pdf

One of the advantages of having hybrid LabVIEW/EPICS is reliable and scalable integration done by Channel Access protocol. In our case, CA integrates EPICS IOCs, LabVIEW controllers, instruments and also turn-key laser systems and so CA implements overall supervisory layer.
I think, that is exactly what is missing in LabVIEW world -- scalable SCADA-like protocol. or system. One can go with third-party or with open-source like EPICS/CA.

We aim for 100s to few 1000s of PVs per laser beamline (so times 4 in total) while keeping 10Hz rate as limit for top-level supervisory data exchange.

After an experience with LabVIEW I/O server (DCS) and after researched other options with our HW options/decisions on mind, we rather provisioned LabVIEW SW implementation of CA-server/-client from Observatory Sciences Ltd.

So now, on both sides (EPICS and LabVIEW), events passing can utilize camonitor routines and error handling can be managed with particular Process Variable fields -- standard to EPICS records. Then ca_get and puts are there and about ten of standard PV (record) types  are supported.

Tomas