Cable tracking system proposal

The Experimental Facilities Division requires a labeling system to identify and catalog the instrumentation, control, and computer cables that will run throughout the building. Tom Sheridan from the MIS Group has already made some general suggestions about the information that could be included in an Oracle-based Cable Tracking System (E-mail text distributed by Gary Gunderson on the 27th of August). Glenn Decker`s LS Note No. 191 is also relevant to the subject since it addresses name assignment rules for the storage ring devices. The intent of this note is to recommend a mechanism for tracking wires/cables, with enough specifics, to which all groups in the Division would adhere when pulling cables. Because most cables will run between various beamline devices, hutch safety components, and equipment racks, any method of tracking cables is related to the Equipment Tracking System. That system has been developed by the APS Project personnel and is described in the APS Project Equipment Tracking System Guidelines (DRAFT). It can be adopted to XFD`s needs. Two essential features of the Cable Tracking System are: 1) Each cable shell have a unique Identifier, and 2) Cable label must contain information that is helpful during troubleshooting in the field. The Identifier is an alphanumeric string of characters that will originate in the Oraclebased Cable Tracking System. It is not necessary for the identifier to carry a lot of intelligence its primary purpose is simply to provide a link to the database. Bar-coding the Identifier would make it easy to combine cable information with the Equipment Tracking System.