Moving data to tape


This page describes how to move your data from disk to tape.

Instructions for users

  • Identify 1 or more disk buffers where you can temporarily place data which should be moved to tape. This should be large enough (>50GB) to accomodate large datasets. It need not be enormous, however, as the files will be removed fairly quickly as they are moved to tape.
  • For the user who has access to the disk buffer, insert the following line into his or her .k5login file:
    danielw@FNAL.GOV
  • Send the location of your disk buffer to Daniel Whiteson as
     username:hostmachine:directory 
    For example, the Top, MC and Exotic group's disk buffers are:
    danielw:fcdfdata120.fnal.gov:/export/data6/top/to_dfc/send/
    cdfdata:fcdfdata005.fnal.gov:/cdf/scratch/cdfdata/logger/incoming/
    exo:fcdfdata116.fnal.gov:/export/data1/beate/lytken/to_tape/
  • Prepare your files to be stored on tape. Make sure that
  • Move them to your disk buffer. When the file has arrived in the disk buffer, create a zero-length file with the name ABrrrrrr.ssssGGGN.ok. You will need 1 of these for each file to import, as it is the indicator that the file is ready for importation.
  • Wait for the files to disappear. You can watch the file buffer.log to monitor the activity. If this file is not created or updated, there may be an error. A successful result will appear like this
    o Polling buffer id=danielw     host=fcdfdata120.fnal.gov       dir=/export/data6/top/to_dfc/send/ at Thu Jun 30 10:28:00 CDT 2005
            - File: /export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b504.0001topa.ok
            - Looking for /export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b504.0001topa on danielw@fcdfdata120.fnal.gov
             o      File size :      1439447.514 kb
             o      Disk free :      919713840 kb
             o      Quota free:      856336188 kb
             >> Getting file /export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b504.0001topa from danielw@fcdfdata120.fnal.gov
             >> Local file /cdf/scratch/cdfmc/danielw/data//aq02b504.0001topa has size 1439447.514
             >> Creating ok file /cdf/scratch/cdfmc/danielw/data//aq02b504.0001topa.ok
             >> Removing remote file danielw@fcdfdata120.fnal.gov:/export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b504.0001topa
             >> Removing remote file danielw@fcdfdata120.fnal.gov:/export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b504.0001topa.ok
    o Polling buffer id=danielw     host=fcdfdata120.fnal.gov       dir=/export/data6/top/to_dfc/send/ at Thu Jun 30 10:30:18 CDT 2005
            - File: /export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b54d.0001topa.ok
            - Looking for /export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b54d.0001topa on danielw@fcdfdata120.fnal.gov
             o      File size :      1331252.066 kb
             o      Disk free :      918306584 kb
             o      Quota free:      854932928 kb
             >> Getting file /export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b54d.0001topa from danielw@fcdfdata120.fnal.gov
             >> Local file /cdf/scratch/cdfmc/danielw/data//aq02b54d.0001topa has size 1331252.066
             >> Creating ok file /cdf/scratch/cdfmc/danielw/data//aq02b54d.0001topa.ok
             >> Removing remote file danielw@fcdfdata120.fnal.gov:/export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b54d.0001topa
             >> Removing remote file danielw@fcdfdata120.fnal.gov:/export/data6/top/to_dfc/send//aq02b54d.0001topa.ok
    

    Details and mechanics