Eur. Phys. J. C (2008) 54: 691-697
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-008-0575-9

Special Article - Scientific Note

Analysis facility infrastructure (Tier-3) for ATLAS experiment

Instituto de Física Corpuscular de Valencia, Centro mixto Universitat de València – CSIC, Edificio Institutos de Investigación, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071, Valencia, Spain

^* e-mail: santiago.gonzalez@ific.uv.es

Received: 12 December 2007
Revised: 4 March 2008
Accepted: 4 March 2008
Published online: 18 March 2008

Abstract

In the ATLAS computing model the tiered hierarchy ranged from the Tier-0 (CERN) down to desktops or workstations (Tier-3). The focus on defining the roles of each tiered component has evolved with the initial emphasis on the Tier-0 and Tier-1 definition and roles. The various LHC (Large Hadron Collider) projects, including ATLAS, then evolved the tiered hierarchy to include Tier-2’s (Regional centers) as part of their projects. Tier-3 centres, on the other hand, have been defined as whatever an institution could construct to support their Physics goals using institutional and otherwise leveraged resources and therefore have not been considered to be part of the official ATLAS computing resources. However, Tier-3 centres are going to exist and will have implications on how the computing model should support ATLAS physicists. Tier-3 users will want to access LHC data and simulations and will want to enable their resources to support their analysis and simulation work. This document will define how IFIC (Instituto de Física Corpuscular de Valencia), after discussing with the ATLAS Tier-3 task force, should interact with the ATLAS computing model, detail the conditions under which Tier-3 centres can expect some level of support and set reasonable expectations for the scope and support of ATLAS Tier-3 sites.