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doc/user/sicsinvoc.txt

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+SICS Invocation
+
+SICS is a client server system. This means there are two programs. The first
+is a SICServer which does the actual instrument control work. A user rarely
+needs to bother about this server program as it is meant to run all the
+time. See instructions below if things go wrong. The user has only to deal
+with the SICS client programs. These implement the user interface to SICS.
+SICS Clients and the SICServer communicate with each other through TCP/IP
+sockets.
+
+Currently four SICS clients are available:
+
+   * A command line control client which allows to control the measurement.
+   * A status display for DMC.
+   * A status display for TOPSI.
+   * A status display for SANS.
+
+These programs can be started on a DigitalUnix system by issuing the
+following commands at the command prompt:
+
+sics &
+     for the control client.
+powderstatus &
+     for the DMC status display client.
+topsistatus &
+     for the TOPSI status display.
+sansstatus &
+     for the SANS status display.
+
+On a PC you may find icons for starting the different prograsm on the
+desktop. Each of these clients has usage instructions online which can be
+displayed through the help/about menu entry.
+
+Connecting and Logging in
+
+After startup any SICS client is not connected to a SICS server and thus not
+active. A connection is established through the connect menu of the client.
+
+SICS is a multi user instrument control system. In order to prevent
+malicious manipulations of the instrument SICS supports a hierarchy of user
+rights. In order to run an experiment you need at least user level
+privilege. In order to achieve this privilege you have to invoke the User
+Parameter/Set Rights dialog. There you have to enter the apropriate username
+and password kindly provided by your instrument scientist.
+
+Restarting the Server
+
+The SICS server should be running all the time. It is only down if something
+went wrong. You can check for the presence of the SICS server by loging in
+to the instrument computer and typing CheckSICS at the command prompt. The
+output will tell you what is happening. If you need to restart the SICS
+server log in as the instrument user at the instrument computer and invoke
+the apropriate command to start the server. These are:
+
+DMC
+     Computer = lnsa05,User = DMC, Command = DMCServer
+TOPSI
+     Computer = lnsa03,User = TOPSI, Command = TOPSIServer
+SANS
+     Computer = lnsa07,User = SANS, Command = SANSServer
+
+If all this does not help look under trouble shooting SICS.