PCEVN status report
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23-Nov-2005, Jouko Ritakari, Ari Mujunen
Metsahovi Radio Observatory (MRO)


- The PCEVN project was started four years ago and conducted in
  2001-2002, MRO designed the recorder (VSIB board) and JIVE the data
  distributor.

- In January 2002 MRO designed a multi-purpose test generator and data
  translator (VSIC board) so that the PCEVN recorder could connect
  (using the VSI-H standard connector) to practically all known VLBI
  formats (Mark4 formatter, ADS-1000 gigabit sampler, VLBA formatter,
  S2, K4, VLBA sampler, ATNF LBA DAS sampler).

- In August 2002 MRO mass-produced a total of 100 VSIB and VSIC boards.

- In November 2002 the EVN CBD decided to end the project and use only
  Mark5, after that the PCEVN project officially ended.

- MRO continued to use the VSIB and VSIC hardware and achieved almost
  all the speed records and firsts.
   * First intercontinental 1 Gbit/s fringes with Kashima in October 2002.
   * First European 1 Gbit/s fringes with Jodrell Bank in March 2003.
   * First 2 Gbit/s fringes with Kashima in June 2003.
   * eVLBI data transfer record 640 Mbit/s disk-to-disk from Finland to JIVE.
   * 400 Mbit/s transfer speed between Kashima and JIVE (via USA).

- The Australian ATNF telescopes used the MRO system in the
  Huygens/Cassini experiment in 2005, a huge success.  ATNF LBA DAS
  raw sampler data was software formatted into Mark4 format before
  correlation at JIVE.

- New developments: A reliable real-time transfer protocol using UDP,
  capable of 512 Mbit/s streaming (with simultaneous disk backups).
  A distributed protocol for grid-based software correlation.

- A total of 29 VSIB and 23 VSIC boards have been sold and delivered
  worldwide.

- Easy migration to next-generation Serial ATA disks (including SATA
  II) and Serial ATA port multipliers (for large number of on-line disks).