=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1787/85-90-paper-13
|storemode=property
|title=Development of database complex for the CBM experiment
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1787/85-90-paper-13.pdf
|volume=Vol-1787
|authors=Elena Akishina,Evgeny Alexandrov,Igor Alexandrov,Irina Filozova,Volker Friese,Viktor Ivanov
}}
==Development of database complex for the CBM experiment==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1787/85-90-paper-13.pdf
Development of database complex for the CBM
experiment
E.P. Akishina1, E.I. Alexandrov1,a, I.N. Alexandrov1, I.A. Filozova1,
V. Friese2, V.V. Ivanov1,3
1
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie, Dubna, 141980, Russia
2
GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, 1 Plankstr, Darmstadt, 64291, Germany
3
National Research Nuclear University ”MEPhI“, 31 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, 115409, Russia
E-mail: a aleksand@jinr.ru
The results on the development of complex databases for the CBM experiment are presented. The set of
basic structural characteristics of the required databases is provided. It is based on the analysis of databases used
for data processing in high-energy physics experiments. The complex includes the following databases: Config-
uration DB, Condition DB, Geometry DB, TagEvent DB and Component DB. The description of the component
database (Component DB) is given. The main principles of the functioning of the geometric database (Geometry
DB) are considered.
Keywords: DBMS, component DB, geometry DB.
© 2016 Elena P. Akishina, Evgeny I. Alexandrov, Igor N. Alexandrov, Irina A. Filozova, Volker Friese, Viktor .V. Ivanov
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Introduction
The CBM (Compressed Baryonic Matter) experimental facility that is being built at GSI
(Darmstadt, Germany) at the accelerator complex of antiprotons and heavy ions FAIR (Facility for
Antiproton and Ion Research) is intended for studying the properties of superdense baryonic matter
generating in 8-45 GeV/nucleon proton-nuclear and nucleus-nucleus collisions [Friman, 2011].
Figure 1 presents a dielectron version of the CBM installation intended for research on short-
living vector mesons and charmonium decaying into an electron-positron pair.
Figure 1: Dielectron version of the CBM experimental setup
Inside the dipole magnet there is a target and a coordinate tracking system STS (Silicon Tracking
System) containing 8 stations of 300 mkm two-way strip detectors. Together with the dipole magnet,
STS is used to reconstruct charged particle trajectories and to determine their momenta. The
Cherenkov detector RICH (Ring Imaging Cherenkov) and the Transition Radiation Detector (TRD)
should provide a reliable registration of electrons/positrons with the pulses of more than 1 GeV/s. The
time-of-light detector (TOF) constructed on the basis of Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC) is intended
for hadron identification in a wide energy range. The Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL) is used for
electron/photon identification. The Projectile Spectator Detector (PSD) is intended for the reaction
plane determination.
Due to high beam intensity and high multiplicity of secondary particles, huge data is expected to
be accumulated by the DAQ (Data acquisition) system for further analysis.
At the current moment the CBM collaboration moves from the stage of prototypes research and
tests to detectors and their components production. The high level of control for manufacturing
process is required because of the complexity and high price of the detector components.
As a result, there is a need for development of a database complex for the CBM experiment. This
paper presents a complex of Database Management Systems (DBMS) for the CBM collaboration and
describes a current status of its implementation. DBMS structure was designed based on the
experience of using databases at the LHC and other experiments in high-energy physics [Akishina,
2014].
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Complex of DBMS
In the CBM databases the following data should be supported: detector production and installa-
tion, survey data, event data and metadata, detector geometry, online configuration, run conditions -
DCS (Distributed Control System) and others, online calibrations and alignments data.
Below we present the list of main databases together with their brief description.
Configuration database: to store a large number of parameters describing the topology of the
DAQ system, hardware and software components and run parameters. It only stores the parameters
that are directly required to start and support in efficient operating conditions of all elements of DAQ
system.
Conditions database: to store, retrieve and manipulate condition, alignment and calibration data.
Condition data keep the state of the CBM setup at the time when events are collected. A subset of the
data will be used both for online (FLES [Hutter,2015]) and offline computing.
Tag Event database: to store, retrieve and manipulate event data and corresponding metadata
from all stages of data processing (Raw, Event Summary Data, Analysis Object Data, etc.).
Geometry database: to store, retrieve, manipulate and load the detector geometry that is stored
as a set of well tested and versioned detectors geometry in a view of ROOT files and metadata.
Component database: to manage properties of detectors and electronic components obtained in
QA (Quality Assurance) process after mass fabrication. Component database includes mechani-
cal/engineering production data and electronics data (calibrations, chip thresholds etc) which are kept
separately in general.
Most of the databases should be implemented as relational databases. The exclusion is the Con-
figuration DB. It stores different types of data as hardware description, software description including
programs with their run parameters etc. There should be a possibility to change data in easy and con-
venient way as such procedure is frequent one. The possible solution for Configuration DB is to use
the object oriented database such as in the ATLAS experiment [Almeida, 2008].
Component database
The Component Database (DB) is the first database that was designed and implemented as a part
of the CBM databases project [Akishina, 2014] according to the User Requirements Document
[Akishina, User Requirements…, 2015]. The Component DB is used to store and manage the proper-
ties of the detectors hardware and electronic components. It contains characteristics, statuses, test re-
sults, certificates and other parameters both numeric/strings and images. The current relational DB
structure allows to use it for any CBM detector performing minor adjustments. The components of
different detectors (STS, Magnet, PSD, RICH, ToF, MUCH, MVD, TRD, ECAL) will be stored in
different databases. Data will be accessed through the common authorization service. The Component
DB has a tree structure. The root of the tree has a name of the CBM facility part such as Magnet,
MVD, STS, etc. The list of the detector components is stored in the tree. The tree leaf is connected to a
table with corresponding names and values. The tests, certificates and statuses are stored in DB as the
references. Testing results of the components are presented in form of images. The certificates details
depend on the component and can be implemented for each detector. The catalog of different statuses
can be defined for each detector separately.
The DBMS PostgreSQL v8.4.20 [PostgreSQL group] was used for implementation of Compo-
nent DB. Basic services are supported for each CBM detector via WEB access to data bases: data
viewing of detector components, search in navigation mode, inserting and editing components data,
support of the catalogs, authorization services for system access. The authorization is based on affilia-
tion to the detector’s group.
The implementation is realized on the basis of client-server interaction. The same schema for all
detectors was produced. Scripts and their usage in according html-pages were implemented. Figure 2
presents an example of the Magnet main page.
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Figure 2: View Mode GUI Example for Magnet
The database structures for several detector systems (magnet, STS, MVD) were confirmed with
the responsible persons. Currently, the Component DB includes eleven tables, six of which are the cat-
alogs [Akishina, Component database…, 2015]. The tables were modified according to the needs of
the various detector systems. The system of catalogs was refined. The following catalogs are currently
approved: the catalog of production companies, the catalog of component categories, the catalog of
component batches, the catalog of statuses, the catalog of the units of quality measurements, and the
catalog of quality criteria.
Geometry database
The Geometry Database is designed and implemented as a part of the CBM Databases project ac-
cording to the User Requirements Document (URD) [Akishina, 2016].The CBM geometry describes
the CBM setup on the detail level required for simulation of particles transport using GEANT
[Agostinelli, 2003]. It represents an ”ideal“ geometry in the sense of the construction blueprint. Devia-
tions from this ideal geometry, as e.g. obtained by optical surveillance after installation or by align-
ment procedures, will be described as additional datasets, which will be handled by Conditions DB.
The basic notations are defined in the URD. According the URD a geometry module is defined as
some metadata and a file in ROOT format with content of detector geometry. Metadata includes
module name, unique module index and other data. Geometry module linked with transformation ma-
trix is the module setup. Complex of setup modules which represents the full CBM geometry is de-
fined as setup.
Currently, the geometry ROOT files are stored and distributed through the CBM software reposi-
tory. Setups as combinations of geometry files are defined on the ROOT macro level. Such a situation
is rather complicated, error-prone and, thus, not ideal. Moreover, handling by the software repository
does not match the requirement that a given geometry version must not change in time. The distribu-
tion of the module geometries as well as entire setups through a database thus appears as desirable so-
lution.
The Geometry DB will store the CBM geometry and setup modules as well as setups as combina-
tion of setup modules. It provides appropriate interfaces to view, retrieve and update setup modules
and setups. The URD also characterizes three categories of users of the Geometry DB: CBM user, De-
veloper, and Lead Developer. The basic use cases for those categories are Load Geometry, Download
Geometry, WEB View, Add Geometry, Add Setup Module, and Add Setup, the detailed description of
which is in progress.
The prototype of the Geometry DB is implemented. It includes two parts: server and client. Serv-
er part is used to view and edit setup and its content. Figure 3 shows a content page of the Geometry
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DB for a specific setup. Client part is used for loading the geometry into memory, for simulation and
reconstruction. It also includes the ROOT macros to load the setup by a tag.
Figure 3. View of the setup content
Conclusion
The complex of databases is an important part of the software for the CBM experiment. The set
of databases is defined and two first databases were designed and implemented. The Component DB
stores all data on the CBM construction and it will be used intensively during CBM commissioning.
Though the database is ready for use it is supposed that it will be upgraded on the base of experience
of its usage. The Geometry DB has benefits both for employees and top management already in the
current stage. This is a transparency and usability, reduced geometry loading code, business transpar-
ency, and advantages in monitoring of geometry. The beta version of the Geometry DB is ready for
use.
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Akishina E. P. et al. Component database development for the CBM experiment // JINR Communica-
tion — 2015— E10-2015-106.
Akishina E. P. et al. User Requirements Document of the Geometry DB for the CBM experiment,
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