CSS interfaces to a control system. It is predominantly a client to the control system, reading data from control system Process Variables. While CSS includes server tools like the Alarm Server, that in turn is again a client to the control system.

When installing or learning to use CSS, a certain familiarity with the control system is assumed. For example, you will need to know the names of process variables that CSS can read or write. You might want to create new process variables that can serve as alarm triggers.

Like other control system client tools, CSS can use the meta data that comes with PVs. A PV value usually includes not only the basic value, for example a number like 3.13, but also a time stamp, a status/severity (OK, alarm, error), and information that display tools can use (value range, alarm limits, units). You need to understand what meta data your control system provides, and how to configure it. For EPICS, this means you should be able to create simple EPICS databases and execute them with the softIoc command. In the absence of a real control system, a few initial steps with CSS will be possible by using simulated PVs like sim://sine. See Chapter 28, PV Access - org.csstudio.vtype.pv for more on PVs.