**CMG comparison of e-log products**

Computing Division Product (D0, NuMI/MINOS, etc.)

-   Features

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-   Multiple platform support because web-based

    -   Upload files/pictures to web from any machine

-   Extensive use of open-source software: JSP's (java server pages),
    Tomcat, Apache webserver, MySQL database, HTML and XML languages

-   One e-log is actually a group of e-log categories

-   Specific applications (forms, e-log categories) must be written for
    MTF case, but examples of all exist.

-   Extensive search capability

-   Email notification by subscription to e-logs or forms

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-   Advantages

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-   CD support for product (Suzanne Panacek)

-   CD support for setup

-   CD can maintain webserver and database (and backups) on FNALU at
    Feynman

    -   Could be slow

    -   D0 uses its own machines, and NUMI/MINOS will too

-   Intended to be useful for international collaboration (take shift
    anywhere!)

-   Security automatically complies with Fermilab standards

    -   For how long??

-   Database-based, not file-based

-   Cannot delete previous entries, only annotate

-   Can save complex search criteria and bookmark them

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-   Disadvantages

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-   Even experienced people have trouble doing simple things, because so
    many options!

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-   Difficult to get overview of a shift due to disjointed sub-e-logs

-   Readability: small fonts are not changeable, no titles for each
    entry

-   Must login to make any e-log entry/annotation, even in control room

    -   Have to logout or be logged out to avoid taxing server

Accelerator Division Product (MCR, TeV, Pbar, CDF, etc.)

-   Features

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-   Multiple platform support because web-based

    -   Upload files/pictures to web from any machine

-   Extensive use of open-source software

    -   Java, Tomcat, Apache webserver, HTML, CGI and Perl scripts

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-   One main e-log; separate support e-logs

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-   Specific applications (forms) must be written for MTF case

-   Extensive searching capability

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-   Advantages

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-   Requires no training

-   Requires no login to enter info, except off-site

-   Good readability

-   Easy to upload pictures, except PDF files

    -   Could problem be overcome with additional programs?

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-   Disadvantages

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-   Product is static, limited external support (Rick Vidal)

    -   Might be able to get assistance from AD?

-   CGI scripts may be security hole?

    -   Do we need off-site access?

    -   Any known trouble with AD/CDF e-logs?

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-   No PDF files uploadable?

-   File-based, not database-based

-   Can be slow to load due to embedded pictures

    -   MCR version has overcome this with mouse-over pictures

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-   Linking between e-logs is by-hand

DESY version (Tesla Test Facility, ZEUS, H1, etc.)

-   Features

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-   Multiple platform support because web-based

    -   Upload files/pictures to web from any machine

-   Extensive use of open-source software

    -   JSP, Apache webserver, XML, HTML

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-   One main e-log (only)

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-   Specific applications (forms) must be written for MTF case

-   Extensive searching (does it work?)

    -   Advantages

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-   Excellent readability: fonts, colors, etc.

-   Titles for each entry (invent text yourself)

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-   Disadvantages (ZEUS case)

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-   Embedded pictures do-it-yourself

-   Previous/next buttons do-it-yourself

-   Searching doesn't work

-   One global e-log, no substructure

-   Turn off hyperthreading (Intel processors) or can't view fully

-   One experiment-wide password

    -   Depend on people to enter names/info correctly

    -   Anyone can delete any entry

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-   Anyone can delete any entry!

-   Unknown support level

## Paul Scherrer Institute product (and experiments at PSI)

-   Features

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-   Multiple platform support because web-based

    -   Upload files/pictures to web from any machine

-   Daemon program (C) reads disk files and formats them in HTML

    -   Runs on Unix, Solaris, Mac/OS, or Windows

    -   Integrated webserver

    -   Attached files are saved to the disk like the e-log entry files

    -   Only C and HTML are used; no Java, no Apache

    -   Very simple

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-   One main e-log (only)

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-   Extensive search capability

-   Email notification by keyword/category of entry

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-   Advantages

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-   Good readability

-   Reducible to headers with suppressed content

-   Can permit or restrict editing of past entries

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-   Disadvantages

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-   No one I know is using it

-   Unknown support level

-   File based

-   One entry permitted at a time; can get blockage while uploading
    large files

-   Unclear how one could use forms for MTF case

-   Only view one e-log entry per page in expanded version

**Summary**

-   None of the products is perfect for us

-   All will require significant customization and organization

-   None comes with service guarantees

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-   The CD product is best for our needs

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-   Contains the primary features we need

    -   Search capability

    -   File/picture attachment capability

    -   Form attachment capability

    -   Platform independence

    -   Reliable technology

-   First version can be setup quickly

-   (re-) configurable

-   Widely used at Fermilab for a while

    -   Other people already debugged it a lot

-   Supported at Fermilab

**To do next**

-   Decide if we want CD to maintain the webserver/DB at Feynman
    (probably)

-   Designate an administrator

-   Request to Suzanne/CD to set up a version for us (\~1 week if
    request granted)

-   Sit together to determine which forms, keywords and e-log categories
    are needed

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-   Must be iterative

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-   Try it