Swestore-dCache
Swestore-dCache is distributed across the SNIC centres C3SE, HPC2N, Lunarc and NSC. Data is stored in two copies with each copy at a different SNIC centre. This enables the system to cope with a multitude of issues ranging from a simple crash of a storage element to losing an entire site while still providing access to the stored data.
One of the major advantages to the distributed nature of Swestore is the excellent aggregated transfer rates possible. This is achieved by bypassing a central node and having transfers going directly to/from the storage elements if the selected transfer protocol allows it. Swestore can achieve aggregated transfer rates in excess of 100 Gigabit per second, but in practice this is limited by connectivity to the end user, each university or a limited number of files (typically max 1 Gbit/s per file/connection).
To protect against silent data corruption the dCache storage system checksums all stored data and periodically verifies the data using this checksum.
The dCache system does NOT yet provide protection against user errors like inadvertent file deletions.
Contents
Acquire and manage certificate (for users accessing with certificate authentication)
Certificate authentication is needed in some special cases, and more convenient for use in automation (ie. Robot certificates).
Some communities require certificate authentication and such users might already have a certificate, that certificate is likely good to use with Swestore.
If you need to use Certificate authentication, follow the instruction on the page Certificate Setup for Swestore.
Using Swestore
Download and upload data
From the command line
There are several command line tools capable of using the protocols provided by Swestore. For usage on SNIC clusters we recommend using the ARC tools which should be installed on all SNIC resources.
As an integration point for building scripts and automated systems we suggest using the curl program and library.
- Interactive tools
- Best suited for interactive use with various support for directory listings, wildcards etc.
- Currently no suitable tools to recommend
- Command-line tools
- These tools are also suitable for scripting or automation.
- rclone
- Supports multiple protocols.
- Please see the instructions for Accessing Swestore with rclone.
- cURL
- Please see the instructions for Accessing Swestore with cURL. We suggest using this as integration point for building scripts and automated systems.
- davix
- Swestore-specific documentation not written yet. See upstream documentation at https://davix.web.cern.ch/davix/docs/master/
- Use access URL: davs://webdav.swestore.se:1443/
- ARC
- Certificate authentication only. Supports multiple protocols.
- Please see the instructions for Accessing Swestore with the ARC client.
- gfal2
- Certificate authentication only. Supports multiple protocols.
- Swestore-specific documentation not written yet. See upstream documentation at https://dmc.web.cern.ch/projects/gfal-2/documentation
- Use access URL: gsiftp://gsiftp.swestore.se/
- https://duck.sh/
- Command-line client for Windows/macOS/Linux (not documented yet)
Using a GUI client
Graphical User Interface (GUI) clients are known to work on some operating systems.
- Cyberduck
- Please see the instructions for Accessing Swestore using Cyberduck Recommended method on macOS
- WinSCP
- Please see the instructions for Accessing Swestore using WinSCP Recommended method on Windows
From a web browser
Swestore is accessible in your web browser as a simple directory index interface at https://webdav.swestore.se/.
Web browser access supports both username/password and certificate authentication.
Projects are organized under the /snic
directory as https://webdav.swestore.se/snic/DIRECTORY_NAME/
.
JavaScript WebDAV client
Swestore dCache can also be accessed in your browser, through a JavaScript client, over WebDAV at https://webdav.swestore.se/browser/ .
Legacy documentation
There are other clients/methods available, but not recommended for new deployments. See Category:Swestore user guide for a complete list of documentation.
Enabled access protocols
A design criteria for Swestore is to provide the storage over a number of standardized and public protocols. There is no vendor specific client needed for access.
- GridFTP
- Also called gsiftp. Well supported within Swestore.
- Features: Transfer checksums. Direct transfer from/to storage pools for high speed transfers.
- Access URL: gsiftp://gsiftp.swestore.se/
- HTTP/WebDAV
- Contender for being the recommended protocol for Swestore.
- Features: Support in web browsers. Supports direct transfer of files from/to storage pools improving performance (varying support in clients).
- Authenticated access
- This is the normal read-write access.
- Access URL: https://webdav.swestore.se/ (non-redirected)
- Access URL: https://webdav.swestore.se:1443/ (redirected)
- Access URL: https://webdav.swestore.se:2443/ (redirected reads)
- Unauthenticated read-only access
- For special cases only.
- Access URL: http://webdav.swestore.se/ (unauthenticated, read-only, non-redirected)
- Access URL: http://webdav.swestore.se:1080/ (unauthenticated, read-only, redirected)
- Access URL: http://webdav.swestore.se:2080/ (unauthenticated, read-only, redirected reads)
- NFSv4.1
- Used by some communities, not recommended for general use
- SRM - Storage Resource Manager
- Used by some communities, not recommended for general use.
- Access URL: srm://srm.swegrid.se/
- Xrootd
- Used by some communities, not recommended for general use
- DCAP
- Used by some communities, not recommended for general use
Usage monitoring
- On the project page in SUPR: https://supr.snic.se
- On the monitoring server for Swestore: http://status.swestore.se/munin/monitor/monitor/ (only accessible from .se-domains.
Support
If you have any issues using Swestore, please do not hesitate to contact support@swestore.se.