MINOS » Memo Pad

h1. REMOTE MINOS+ STATIONS REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES

Notes underlined show topics that need discussion, improvement or maybe a complete change.

Notes with *bold font*  shows the significant differences between

 docDB 7789-v4 (Remote MINOS Shifts -Brett Viren, Rob Plunkett and Benton Pahlka) and this documentation.

h2. INTRODUCTION

A remote MINOS station can save effort and funds of different institutions by providing a

possibility to the collaboration to take shifts remotely. Since shifters rarely are in

physical contact with the detectors and all duties are done by networked applications, a

remote shift has almost no lacks comparing to a local shift. This document provides the

hardware and software requirements to set a remote shift station from the ground up and

defines the requirements, certification and policies for MINOS+ Remote Stations.

h2. HARDWARE AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to be certified for remote MINOS+ shifts one will need to fulfill the requirements shown below :

* Two computers, each one powerfull enough to run all the software simultaneously. 

One sufficiently powerfull computer ought to be enough for a shift, 

but it is strongly recommended to split the load on two machines.

* At least 3 displays (NuMIMon, RC GUI and DCS must be visible by default).

* A telephone line able to make and receive domestic / international calls.

* A copy of the Shifter's Guide (available at http://www-numi.fnal.gov/Minos/ControlRoom/ShiftersGuide.pdf).

* A list of all phone numbers listed in the blackboard at the MINOS+ Control Room.

h2. INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION

MINOS+ Control Room operates under the Scientific Linux Fermi 5.5 in the 32 bit version.

This must be the RMS operational system as well and it can be downloaded at http://fermilinux.fnal.gov

The Control Room software and the necessary steps to configure a Remote MINOS+ Station are

available in a centralized and online page (link below). This guarantee that the software is

always available and the documentation used to set it up is up to date.

https://cdcvs.fnal.gov/redmine/projects/remotestation/wiki

+Stefano's note: maybe it could be more efficient to move all the information in the RMS

Wiki to the Remote section in the Memopad. Having RMS documentation fragmented in 2

different online pages can be counter productive.

+

h2. REMOTE SHIFT LIMITATIONS

On remote shifts some tasks will be different or missing comparing to a local shift. 

The first is that there is no possibility to manage the keys for going underground on the Near Detector Hall. 

Since this duty is shared with MINERvA, it will be delegated to them during remote shifts or, otherwise, 

this will not be performed. 

Also, ACNET beam plots will not be made. 

The choice was made by weighting the technical challenge against their importance and the ease of which experts can perform them.

h2. CERTIFYING A NEW RMS

In order to be an official RMS, the institution's remote station must fulfill some

requirements

* Have technical resources to configure and maintain the remote station.

* Be committed to making the station available for collaborators from outside the hosting institution for their own remote shifts.

* Successfully complete two (uncounted) test shifts by two different people, concurrent with a local shift (at FNAL). 

At least one uncounted shift must be performed by one who is not directly involved in configuring and maintaining the RMS.

** +The condition above may be changed to:\

- Successfully complete two (uncounted) test shifts concurrent with a local shift (at

FNAL).

Removing the condition of doing shifts with 2 different people will allow that Universities

with only ONE researcher can be defined as an official RMS. The same person will configure

the RMS, maintain it and do the necessary shifts.+

* An informal report describing issues (if any) found during the shift should be given to

the run coordinators and other interested parties.

he fulfillment of the fore mentioned requirements certifies the RMS for official remote

shifts. A list with the officially maintained MINOS+ remote stations can be found in the

Remote MINOS+ Station's Wiki and in the Remote section in the MemoPad:\

https://cdcvs.fnal.gov/redmine/projects/remotestation/wiki

+Stefano's note: If the wiki gets moved to the Memopad, than the last paragraph will

just mention that the officially maintained MINOS+ remote stations can be found in the

section "List of officially maintained MINOS+ remote stations"+

h2. SHIFTER TRANSITION

Local shifts have an informal procedure for shift hand-off. 

The new shifter should be updated with some current issues (if any), 

the current status of the experiment and if someone is performing some tasks underground. 

This should be done during shift hand-off for remote shifts as well.

* The oncoming remote shifter calls the current local (or remote) shifter before the end of

the current shift to discuss the status of the experiment. It is strongly recommended that

the oncoming shifter also checks the Logbook and the Memopad. (Ignore this step if there was

no previous shift, but checking the Logbook and MemoPad before the start of the shift is

strongly recommended and could avoid some problems.)

* The oncoming remote shifter must ensure that the remote shift contact information is

prominently displayed in the MINOS+ Control Room.

*A note in the Logbook informing the start of a remote shift with the remote station's

name, the remote shifter's name and its contact should be done.*

* The MINERvA shifter must be informed that a remote MINOS+ shift is starting.

* The MINERvA shifter must inform the Main Control Room (MCR) that they are now the NuMI contact.

* +The 2 steps in italic above should be removed, since NOvA is now responsible for

the NuMI.+

On end shift hand-off, the steps are reversed:

Oncoming local (or remote) shifter must call the Remote MINOS+ Station before the end of

the shift in order to be updated with the status of the experiment.\

* The remote shift announce must be removed from the MINOS+ Control Room display.\

* *The remote shifter should state, in the Logbook, that the remote shift has ended.*

* If the new shifter is a local shifter, then the Main Control Room must be informed that MINOS+ is the current NuMI contact.

+The step in italic should be removed,  since NOvA is now responsible for the

NuMI+