Getting Started

How to get started with Rucio

Rucio terms

• Rucio Storage Element (RSE) is another name for an endpoint, or storage solution.

• Rules are an instruction to Rucio to do a certain thing. This can be to ensure file x has at least 1 copy at storagesite1, or ensure file y is on tape, or even on tape at more than one location, or even file z has 2 copies at any site within a selection of sites. How you set up the RSE and the attributes you give them allows for many different strategies to transfer and ordanise data. Once a rule is created, Rucio will get to work to ensure that the rule is satisfied at all times.

• File is single file within Rucio.

• Dataset is a collection of files, which may be a collection or related results, or data.

• Container is a collection of Datasets which may build a larger subset of a whole experiment.

• Scope is a collection in which files, datasets, and containers are placed. Users will have their own scope, often user.username. But also experiments, sub-experiments, or however you wish to orgaise the data can also have scopes. Accounts can be given access to scopes by VO admins.

• Data Identifier (DID) uniquely identifies data in Rucio. It is made up from the scope and the filename, separated by a colon (e.g. experiment1:file1).

Getting started as a new user

Account creation

1. To get set up with a Rucio account please sent Tim an email at Rucio-Support@stfc365.onmicrosoft.com. Please include:

   • Desired Username (usually initials and surname e.g. John Doe would have jdoe)

   • Your email

   • Name of the experiment / VO you are part of

   • The subject of your eScience certificate

If you want password access we can organise a video call to explain or take sensitive information if you prefer
In Terms of testing you can join the test VO (dteam) to try Rucio as a service and its capabilities.
Please note that we are working on allowing Rucio accounts to be created and accessed with IAM services, and EGI Check-in, but currently only support x509 and password access.

1. Once our team has this information we will create you a Rucio account.

Docker container setup

1. You will then need to install a containerised client on your computer.

   • Install Docker to run the container

   • https://www.docker.com/get-started (for windows users I would recommend using WSL2)

   • Follow the docker instructions to ensure it is running correctly.

   • Using openSSL you will need to split your grid certificate bundle into the certificate and key:

   $ openssl pkcs12 -in <*.pfx> -out /sensible/path/usercert.pem -clcerts -nokeys $ openssl pkcs12 -in <*.pfx> -out /sensible/path/userkey.pem -nocerts -nodes

2. Run the Docker container docker compose:

Create a file called compose.yaml and fill in the details below

You will need BOTH UK eScience CA 2B can be obtained here, and the eScience ROOT obtained here.

You then need to combine them both into a file and call it ca-first.pem, this can be done like this:

It is important to include the full path to the usercert.pem and userkey.pem files, and the e-Science CA 2B, as well as their file extensions. Otherwise Docker seems to think they are directories which causes problems. If you still have issues, you may need to chmod 777 the usercert and userkey files.

VO Names and Rucio abbreviations

Once the container is created. Inside the container run this command:

After this you will be able to run Rucio commands.

Rucio configuration setup (advanced setup)

You need to edit the /opt/rucio/etc/rucio.cfg file, this then needs to be lightly edited to add your account name. This will then be loaded into the Rucio client.

You should now have a fully set up Containerised Client for your Rucio Account and VO which you can start in docker and use whenever you need it.

• If not please contact Rucio support

Getting started as a new VO

• To get set up with a new VO on Multi-VO Rucio account please create a ticket on ggus. Please fill in the form with a subject, description, ticket category - service request, priority - less urgent, and under routing information please select ‘assign to support unit’ - Rucio).

• We will set up a meeting to discuss Rucio, your needs, sites, and current set up to ensure that Rucio can work for you, and will track progress with the ticket.