Switching the Fermilab accelerator control system to a relational database

The accelerator control system (“ACNET”) at Fermilab is using a made-in-house, assembly language, database. The database holds device information, which is mostly used for finding out how to read/set devices and how to interpret alarms. This is a very efficient implementation, but it lacks the needed flexibility and forces applications to store data in private/shared files. This database is being replaced by an off the-shelf relational database (Sybase). The major constraints on switching are the necessity to maintain/improve response time and to minimize changes to existing applications. Innovative methods are used to help achieve the required performance, and a layer seven gateway simulates the old database for existing programs. The new database is running on a DEC ALPHA/VMS platform, and provides better performance. The switch is also exposing problems with the data currently stored in the database, and is helping in cleaning up erroneous data. The flexibility of the new relational database is going to facilitate many new applications in the future (e.g. a 3D presentation of device-location). The new database is expected to fully replace the old database during this summer´s shutdown