Agilent OL and the Agilent Instrument Controller Network Appliance. White Paper. By Frank Tontala

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1 Agilent OL and the Agilent Instrument Controller Network Appliance White Paper By Frank Tontala Agilent Technologies Laboratory Informatics Life Sciences & Chemical Analysis Group

2 Agilent OL and the Agilent Instrument Controller Network Appliance Introduction Agilent OL is designed as an operating system for the modern laboratory. It is intended to provide a scalable, flexible and adaptable platform for laboratory instruments, laboratory operators, and laboratory work processes. Instruments in the Agilent OL framework connect to the network through the Agilent Instrument Controller Network Appliance. These devices provide LAN-based network access to all instruments and control the data acquisition process in a protected fashion so that even if the network is inoperative, the data acquisition and control of instruments can proceed through the Agilent Instrument Controller. Agilent OL provides a number of software features and capabilities for managing total laboratory information (content) as well as the laboratory instruments. This white paper will discuss some of these major features with respect to managing instruments through the Agilent Instrument Controller Network Appliance. Additional White Papers are available on other significant Agilent OL capabilities and features. Network Access to Instruments with the Agilent Instrument Controller still provides full instrument control in the absence of a network connection (or network failure). Once a sequence is submitted to the Agilent Instrument Controller, the Agilent Instrument Controller will process the entire sequence (including sequences based on multiple methods), buffering the data locally in non-volatile Agilent Instrument Controller memory as necessary. When the network connection is restored, the buffered data are transparently and automatically transferred to the Agilent OL ECM. Through the Agilent Instrument Controller Network Appliance, all connected instruments are network-accessible. Instruments can be connected and controlled from any user location (subject to user security) and from any Agilent OL web client on the network. Real time status display, real time data acquisition can be viewed from multiple web clients for any instrument. Figure 1: The Agilent Instrument Controller is a network device used by Agilent OL to connect all instruments to the software framework. It has a small footprint, approximately the size of a bookend, and can connect up to 4 different instruments. It supports a variety of different communication protocols (RS232, IEEE, SCSI, Ethernet, USB). 2

3 Operating Characteristics Like Any Other Network Appliance Agilent Instrument Controllers interact with the network in the same way as other network appliances such as routers and switches. The Agilent Instrument Controller does not need to be a member of the Windows domain and no domain login credentials are required. The Agilent Instrument Controllers do not appear and are not directly accessible through any PC client on the network. No print drivers, device drivers or instrument control software are installed by the user on the Agilent Instrument Controller. In fact, the Agilent Instrument Controllers themselves have no external access (no keyboard, monitor) other than their network connection. System administration and support in Agilent OL for Agilent Instrument Controllers are also simplified. Instrument control drivers are pushed to the device by the Agilent OL server so that enterprises incorporating many Agilent Instrument Controllers throughout a diverse facility can still administrate and control them easily. Designed as a closed system in accordance with the FDA s 21 CFR Part 11 requirements, the Agilent Instrument Controller simplifies deployment in an enterprise and reduces validation requirements with its validate once deploy many capabilities. All Agilent Instrument Controllers are the same structurally so that enterprises can validate one Agilent Instrument Controller type with the assurance that others of the same configuration can be safely deployed. Installation Like Any Other Network Appliance When installed in the Agilent OL framework, the Agilent Instrument Controller operates as a true network appliance. The device is assigned an Ethernet IP address through a simple web browser interface, but is not added to the Windows domain, does not require a domain login and is otherwise transparent to the domain. setup and installation uses a standard setup procedure very much akin to the procedures for installing network routers. When shipped from manufacturing, each Agilent Instrument Controller will require a brief setup that can be performed by network administration personnel. A PC with an Ethernet adapter is connected via a crossover cable to the Agilent Instrument Controller. After the Agilent Instrument Controller is powered up, a PC is used to connect to the Agilent Instrument Controller through a standard web browser. A configuration screen appears to allow the administrator to specify general information, such as the Agilent Instrument Controller name, and either a static IP address or one obtained via DHCP. 3

4 Agilent Instrument Controller Management of Installed Software The Agilent OL Operating System for the Laboratory includes utilities for the administrator to easily manage Agilent Instrument Controllers deployed on an enterprise-wide scale throughout a company network. Once configured, the Agilent Instrument Controller is attached to the Agilent OL network and the instruments. Instrument control drivers are then pushed down to each Agilent Instrument Controller through a centralized system management facility. This is a simple matter of checking the appropriate Agilent OL instrument control driver(s) from a list on the configuration page. As the laboratory adds or moves instruments to the Enterprise, the configuration utility makes it simple to add new instrument control software drivers. The utilities also include a complete Audit Trail to record all operations performed on the Agilent Instrument Controller during the setup and configuration. 4

5 Robust Communications Ideal for Laboratory Instruments Agilent Instrument Controllers are designed to operate in critical laboratory operations to support real time data acquisition. The communications are based on the Microsoft.NET Framework, which provides a highly robust and scalable platform for information transfer among the components of the Agilent OL framework. Step 1: The user submits a sequence to an instrument. uses Web Services interfaces to communicate with the Agilent OL Enterprise. Unlike older technologies such as DCOM, web services are designed to operate transparently and reliably over both local and wide area networks. Because they are stateless connections (much like a web page), they do not require a constant, uninterrupted link in order to operate. also uses the Agilent OL queuebased messaging system to provide controlled task management for each Agilent Instrument Controller in the Enterprise. Step 2: received the job request and acquires the data. The following series of graphics demonstrates how the Agilent Instrument Controller uses the message queue to acquire a sequence of samples. Step 3: analyzes and stores the data and results. 5

6 SUMMARY Network Appliance in the Agilent OL Operating System for the Laboratory acts as a true network appliance to manage instrument operation: Step 4: submits a report request to the server. Closed system operation with controlled access only through the Agilent OL software application. No user logins. Centralized administration (installation and configuration) from the Agilent OL System utilities for convenient management. Step 5: The server retrieves the results and prints the reports. This information is subject to change without notice. Agilent Technologies, Inc Printed in U.S.A. June 23, EN