Computing Seminar

Seminar Overview

Harry Renshall , CERN/IT

Abstract

As part of the evolution from mainframes to distributed computing CERN developed its own mass storage data management system, SHIFT, which has successfully managed LEP and fixed target data over many years.

The requirements of LHC go well beyond the original design of SHIFT and three years ago we adopted a two line approach namely to try a commercial solution, the High Performance Storage System (HPSS) from IBM, and to develop a new Cern Advanced Storage (CASTOR) Manager that would first be used for the next generation of fixed target experiments then extended for LHC. When we started HPSS Compaq Alpha processors were our main tape servers so we included a joint project with a Compaq funded fellow to port the needed parts of HPSS to Compaq while the authors of the SHIFT system took a CERN fellow to work on CASTOR. Both fellows report on their work in this seminar (appr. 30 minutes each).

1. HPSS 4.1.1 on Compaq Tru64 Unix
   Patrice Calegari, CERN/IT
2. Experience with the CASTOR Mass Storage System: Practical, Design and Development Issues
   Jean-Damien Durand, CERN/IT