A Data Mining Application for ATLAS Detector Controls Data

Modern experiments in high energy physics conducted in the Large Hadron Collider in CERN are incredibly complex. Measurements in these experiments require many different and advanced systems, integrated in complicated machines called detectors. ATLAS is a general purpose detector at the LHC. Such an elaborate machine requires a sophisticated control system to allow users to control and monitor its performance. This system, called the ATLAS Detector Control System (DCS), regularly logs information regarding the various subsystems, such as system information coming from DCS servers and software tools. It also notifies users about any malfunctions in the detectors software or hardware using alarms. Accessing log information and alarms efficiently may help detect problem more easily, increase our understanding of the various systems and even help predict and prevent future problems. DCS Data miner (DDM) is an application created using a tool called Splunk, in order to make data mining of log and alarm information easy and efficient.