Making and changing the lab state¶

One time: Hosts and benches¶

First you need to add some hosts and benches to the lab. This usually happens only once. Suppose we have a computer called “brian” that is the localhost actually running the notebooks (note: it can be also viewed as a server). It is physically located on Bert’s bench:

from lightlab.laboratory.state import lab
from lightlab.laboratory.instruments import LocalHost, Host, Bench

# Start by making a host. This is a real computer.
brianHost = LocalHost(name='brian')  # name is optional
assert brianHost.isLive()  # Sends a ping request
lab.updateHost(brianHost)
lab.saveState()

Next, let’s add a remote host called “gunther”. It connects to some instruments and is running VISA server that will be contacted by the central server (brian):

guntherHost = Host(name='gunther',into labstate
                   hostname='labdns-gunther.school.edu',
                   mac_address='00:00:00:00:00:01',  # optional
                   os='windows')  # optional
assert guntherHost.isLive()  # will send a ping
lab.updateHost(guntherHost)
lab.saveState()

Next, a bench. Benches are not strictly necessary but useful by convention:

bertBench = Bench(name='bert')
lab.updateBench(bertBench)
lab.saveState()

Note

For isLive to work, the host must be configured to respond to pings.

Instruments¶

Instruments can be configured many times, for example, if they move. An example of setting one of them is below. You should copy this ipynb into your operating (myWork) directory as a template to run with jupyter.

Instrument configuration

Now you get that instrument from any other notebook with the command:

from lightlab.laboratory.state import lab
keithley = lab.instruments_dict['Keithley 21']