New Architecture for the RFX-mod Machine Control System

The RFX-mod machine control system, which is currently entirely based on PLC technology, is undergoing a major reorganization, to improve its software versatility and to overcome increasing difficulties in legacy hardware and software maintenance. The new architecture will retain PLCs as I/O interface, moving control functions to a new PC-based layer, and will adopt Java as programming language for control tasks and graphical user interface. Data exchange will rely on OPC and MDSplus technology. One PC will manage, under Windows, the OPC data and their export through mdsip (the MDSplus transport layer), whereas other PCs, running either Windows or Linux, will provide control functions and graphical user interface.