If the accessibility of flow cytometric (FCM) data to all experimenters is the aim and if the means is provided by an institute-wide microVax cluster, then the remaining problem is the transmission of the data between the cluster and the very different computer systems that perform the original data acquisition. In the course of the (ever-continuing) development of a data network, a number of data transfer modes have been experimented with or investigated, some of which have required the in-house creation of a number of software and hardware components. The following links between cytometers, computers and operating systems have been forged and/or are used:
This network has allowed FCM data to be centralized on a large disc storage unit on the microVax cluster, there to be analyzed using the program WEFCS by any operator with a terminal connection to the cluster; either directly, from within the building, or by telephone or other network connection.
The high rate of data production from the three cytometers requires that a time limit (currently of three months) be imposed, upon expiration of which the data is finally cleared from the main storage disk onto magnetic tape cassette for permanent archival storage. An expanded "directory" program allows the user to search the archive and request retrieval of old files.