Updated status at the end of 2023

XRF_beamline.md

 
 #  X-Ray Fluorescence beamline (XRF)
 
-Ref: Milan Prica, Roberto Borghes, Valentina Chenda
-Last updated: Feb. 5, 2021
+Ref: Milan Prica, Roberto Borghes, Valentina Chenda (SPE)
 
 ## Experimental Activities
 
@@ -27,6 +26,9 @@ in semiconductors with nm depth resolution.
 liquid samples residues and micro/nanoparticles on smooth surfaces;
 - X-Ray Reflectivity (XRR): for structural analysis of thin films and multi-layers.
 
+There is extensive user documentation on the Elettra website written by the beamline scientist, Ilaria Carlomagno.  
+https://www.elettra.eu/lightsources/elettra/elettra-beamlines/microfluorescence/useful-procedures.html
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 Fluorescence experiments are controlled by IAEA software running on their Windows machines. 
@@ -39,14 +41,18 @@ The monochromator has 5 channels: Si, InSb, HE, ME and LE. For the first two, th
 separations may be regulated. Motor controllers include Galil, SmarAct, PI and Newfocus.
 
 On the xrf-desktop-01 workstation the network speed has changed a few times from gigabit 
-to the slowest setting, 10Kb/s. The cause is yet unknown.
+to the slowest setting, 10Kb/s. The cause is yet unknown. <-- Issue fixed in 2022.
+
 
 ## **Control system machines**
 
 Beamline controls and EXAFS experiments run on Elettra hardware and software.
+- **xrf-control-01.blcs.elettra.trieste.it**: Dismissed in 2023.
+
 - **xrf-control-01.blcs.elettra.trieste.it**: Virtual machine that hosts the Tango database
-(port 20000) and all the Tango devices (except the IAEA ones, see below). OS: Ubuntu 16.04.
-Development/admin user is controls. 
+(port 20000) and all the Tango devices (except the IAEA ones, see below). 
+Ubuntu 18.04 and Tango-9.3.4. Login with VUO account as on the new installations.
+
 
 - **iaea-server.elettra.eu**: is the old Windows PC located in the corner of the XRF control 
 room. Remote access is only possible with TightVNC. Beamline staff has the login credentials.
@@ -56,13 +62,18 @@ Regular Astor cannot be used due to the starter issues but Jive is available.
 
 ## **Beamline workstations**
 
+Both xrf-desktop-01 and xrf-desktop-02 have been reinstalled in 2023 with the Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 
+and Tango-9.3.4. Python3 versions of all important packages are available (PyTango, hdf, numpy...)
+Login with VUO credentials.
+
 - **xrf-desktop-01.blcs.elettra.trieste.it**: Main workstation for controlling the
-beamline and the EXAFS experiments. OS: Ubuntu 16.04. Development/admin user is controls,
-while the beamline user is xrf. DonkiLog, DonkiLauncher, Taurus 4.6 panels and command-line 
-experiment control scripts run on it. Scripts are located in /home/xrf/Documents/scripts/.
+beamline and the EXAFS experiments. Logbook typically runs on this host.
 
 - **xrf-desktop-02.blcs.elettra.trieste.it**: Backup workstation with the same 
-setup as the main workstation but with a small screen.
+setup as the main workstation but with a much smaller screen.
+
+Both machines have VNC access used extensively by the beamline scientists. 
+
 
 ## **High level TANGO devices**
 
@@ -76,15 +87,19 @@ avoid backlash when changing energy to a lower value by setting an even lower va
 All the scans are performed by moving from lower to higher energies.
 
 - **xrf/acquisition/exafs_scan**: An Executer script that controls the EXAFS scans. 
-It is highly configurable and it may be run either from its Taurus GUI or from a command line
-tool that uses python properties files for configuration. The acquisition is performed
-by the **DonkiOrchestra**.
+It is highly configurable and it runs either from its Taurus GUI or from a command line
+tool that uses python properties files for its configuration. The acquisition is performed
+by the **DonkiOrchestra**. Over the years additional scans have been added and are occasionlly
+used like XRR, XSW.
+For detailed information see:
+https://www.elettra.eu/lightsources/elettra/elettra-beamlines/microfluorescence/how-to-run-exafs-xrr-and-xsw-scans.html
 
 ## **High level CLI**
 
 - **exafs_scan.py**: A command line tool found on the two workstations that configures 
-and runs any number of EXAFS scans. Also controls the HOS and 7-axes manipulator. 
-It is entirely configurable with python's property files.
+and runs any number of EXAFS and other type scans. Also, it controls the HOS and 7-axes manipulator. 
+It is entirely configurable with python's property files. For detailed information see:
+https://www.elettra.eu/lightsources/elettra/elettra-beamlines/microfluorescence/macros-at-xrf.html
 
 ## **Instrumentation TANGO devices**