MDS/MIT high‐speed data‐acquisition and analysis software system

MDS is a high‐speed VAX‐based CAMAC‐oriented data‐acquisition and analysis system. It was developed at MIT for use on the ALCATOR C and TARA experiments. MDS consists of a coherent set of general purpose, flexible tools for experimental data handling. Using MDS a scientist can set up a complete diagnostic including CAMAC data acquisition, display, and analysis without writing any code. MDS has been in use at MIT for over two years and is also installed and operational at numerous other labs including PPPL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, UCLA, and Sandia National Laboratory. The computer equipment on which MDS is installed ranges from large VAXclusters to small stand‐alone MicroVAX II systems. The authors of this paper hope to present an overview for those unfamiliar with the MDS system, to discuss planned improvements in the system, and to discuss ideas for future enhancements that may benefit all the MDS sites.