Installation and configuration of XIA MCA¶

Installation of XIA devices is common to 3 XIA MCA electronics:

Xmap
Mercury
FalconX

The devices are connected to a Windows (10 pro 64 bits) computer.

BLISS must be installed on that Windows PC to be able to run a BLISS RPC server.

Handel is the library used to deal with XIA devices and data. It comes with ProSpect, the Windows software provided by XIA for testing and calibrating XIA devices.

BLISS running on a linux station needs a BLISS rpc server named bliss-handel-server. It runs on a windows PC and uses the Handel library to access the XIA devices.

There are 2 versions of ProSpect:

ProSpect for Xmap and Mercury (merged with the deprecated xManager)
ProSpect for FalconX

Windows PC installation¶

Windows version must be 10 pro 64 bits

Windows 7 is now deprecated.

Installation of conda¶

Download a conda installer:
- miniconda
Miniconda Installer:
- Next / I agree / tick All users / Next
- “Destination Folder:” C:\ProgramData\Miniconda3 / Next
- Advanced Options:
  - tick Register
  - untick Add miniconda3 to PATH
  - Next
- Install
- untick “Anacoda Individual Edition Tutorial” + “Getting Started with Anaconda” / Finish
Create a link from taskbar to anaconda powershell:
- click on Windows Start Menu / type anaconda / Right click on Anaconda Powershell Prompt ( not Anaconda Prompt) / Pin to taskbar
Create the bliss conda environment with python 3.7 and git:
- Start anaconda powershell
- conda create -n bliss -y python=3.7 git pip gitpython
Activate bliss environment:
- conda activate bliss

Configue channels:

conda config --env --set channel_priority false
conda config --env --add channels conda-forge
conda config --env --append channels defaults
conda config --env --append channels tango-controls
conda config --env --append channels esrf-bcu

Installation of BLISS¶

Clone and install BLISS
```
git clone https://gitlab.esrf.fr/bliss/bliss bliss.git

cd bliss.git

git checkout 1.9.x

conda install -y --file requirements-win64.txt

pip install -e . --no-deps
```
Note

As of March 22, 2022, Bliss 1.9.x branch points to commit #1391b98bf. Python version is 3.7.12. These are the versions used by ESRF detector pool’s computers.
test bliss installation:
```
C:\ python
>>> import bliss
>>>
```

Installation of XIA software¶

Copy into c:\blissadm files an directories found in:

P:\\ISDD\SOFTWARE\Public\distrib\XIA\

March 2022 versions.

ProSpect for Falconx
- version 1.1.62
ProSpect for Mercury and Xmap
- version 1.1.66
Handel-all library for Mercury/Xmap devices
- version 1.2.28 64 bits
Handel-sitoro library for Falconx
- version 1.1.22 64 bits

Depending on the XIA device FalconX or Xmap/Mercury:
- Install the corresponding ProSpect
- Test connection to the device with ProSpect
If available, install configuration file(s) in: c:\blissadm\falconx\config\id00 or in c:\blissadm\xmap\config\id00

For FalconX

Connection to the falconX can be tested with a browser using address http://192.168.200.201
Check firware version (nov. 2021: 21.2.0)

Server Startup script¶

Note

Examples are given for FalconX. Xmap/Mercury behaviour is similar.

Important

To ensure a peaceful coexistence between conda and powershell, the shortcut falconx/falconx-start IDXX should point to the startup script falconx/falconx-server_IDXX.ps1. They need to be customised.

Copy in falconx directory and rename startup script: falconx\falconx-server_IDXX.ps1 -> falconx\falconx-server_ID00.ps1.
Customize it according to Beamline configuration (BEACON_HOST / Device Name):
- right-click / edit
Copy and rename the shortcut to the desktop falconx\falconx-start IDXX -> falconx\falconx-start ID00
Customize it:
- Right-click / properties / Change end of Traget line: IDXX -> ID00

Developer’s details

The bliss-handel-server start-up script is created at installation time using the entry_points definitions in setup.py of the BLISS repository.

entry_points={
      "console_scripts": [
          ...
      "bliss-handel-server = bliss.controllers.mca.handel.server:main",
      ] }

The wrapping of the Handel library is made with cffi. see: bliss/controllers/mca/handel/_cffi.py

BLISS Configuration in Beacon¶

Example for mercury:

- name: mercury
  module: mca
  plugin: bliss
  class: Mercury
  url: tcp://wfameid42xia:8000
  configuration_directory: C:\\blissadm\\mercury\\config\\BM16
  default_configuration: Vortex3_Mercury4ch_05us_Hg.ini

Example for FalconX:

- name: fxid42
  module: mca
  plugin: bliss
  class: FalconX
  url: tcp://wid421:8000
  configuration_directory: C:\\blissadm\\falconx\\config\\ID42
  default_configuration: falconxn.ini

Example for Xmap:

- name: fxid16
  module: mca
  plugin: bliss
  class: XMAP
  url: tcp://wid421:8000
  configuration_directory: C:\\blissadm\\xmap\\config\\ID42
  default_configuration: xmap.ini