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.