Re: Proposed changes in the synApps dxp module for XIA electronics

[Mark Rivers <rivers@cars.uchicago.edu>]

Folks,


I heard from several people who are still using the EPP and USB-1.0 Saturn/Vortex boxes on Linux.  I have now tested these and I am happy to report that after a few bug fixes they work fine with the new version of the dxp software.  I have tested the following:


- MicroDXP USB-2.0. 64-bit Windows, 32 and 64 bit Linux.

- Saturn USB-2.0  64-bit Windows, 32 and 64 bit Linux.

- Saturn/Vortex EPP  32 and 64 bit Linux

- Saturn/Vortex USB-1.0  32 and 64 bit Linux


I don't plan to support the Saturn/Vortex EPP and USB-1.0 boxes on Windows.  The required drivers are no longer available, and we have Linux support.


I still need to test the following:

Saturn USB-2.0  on Windows

Mercury on Windows and Linux

xMAP on Windows.


However, I don't expect any problems with them.


The updated software is on Github https://github.com/epics-modules/dxp in the master branch.


Mark



________________________________
From: Mark Rivers
Sent: Tuesday, May 1, 2018 3:19 PM
To: tech-talk@aps.anl.gov; 'beamline_controls@aps.anl.gov'; 'aps_detectors@aps.anl.gov'
Subject: Proposed changes in the synApps dxp module for XIA electronics


Folks,



I am changing the synApps "dxp" module that supports spectroscopy electronics from XIA.



These are the proposed enhancements:



-          Switch to the new version of the XIA Handel library which is 64-bit compatible.  The version currently used is not 64-bit safe, and so one must build for a 32-bit EPICS_HOST_ARCH, e.g win32-x86 or linux-x86.

-          Add support for the MicroDXP, which is a board-level module embedded in detectors from Ketek and in some Vortex electronics from Hitachi.



These are the proposed changes that will remove support for some older models.  The new version of the Handel library no longer supports these models.



-          Remove support for the DXP4C2X, which is the very old CAMAC module.  I suspect no one is still using this?

-          Remove support for the EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port) interface to the old Vortex and Saturn modules.  Some old Vortex blue boxes from Radiant only supported the EPP interface.  It is getting very hard to find computers that still support the EPP interface, and the third-party Windows software used (DLPORTIO) is no longer supported and is only available in a 32-bit version.  Is anyone still using the EPP interface?

-          Remove support for the USB-1.0 interface to the old Saturn modules.  The third-party Windows software is no longer supported and is only available in 32-bit version.  Is anyone still using the USB 1.0 interface, and if so on Linux or Windows?



I would like to hear if these changes will adversely impact anyone, i.e. are you still using these older models?  If so I could try to merge the support into the new Handel library, at least on Linux.



USB-2.0 will continue to be supported for the Vortex, Saturn, Mercury, and MicroDXP.  The xMAP will also continue to be supported on Windows.  There is a separate repository (dxpSITORO) for the FalconX models from XIA.



Thanks,

Mark