Online data storage service strategy for the CERN computer Centre

The Data and Storage Services group at CERN is conducting several service and software development projects to address possible scalability issues, to prepare the integration of upcoming technologies and to anticipate changing access patterns. Particular emphasis is put on: - very high performance disk pools for analysis based on XROOTD[1] - lower latency archive storage using large, cost and power effective disk pools - more efficient use of tape resources by aggregation of user data collections on the tape media - a consolidated system for monitoring and usage trend analysis This contribution will outline the underlying storage architecture and focus on the key functional and operational advantages, which drive the development. The discussion will include a review of proof-of-concept and prototype studies and propose a plan for the integration of these components in the existing storage infrastructure at CERN.