Connecting to the Grid
======================

To connect to the Grid you need to setup and configure a storage node.

1. Install Tahoe
  * On Debian or Ubuntu there are pre-built packages see
    <http://allmydata.org/trac/tahoe/wiki/DownloadDebianPackages> 
  * For installing from source see
    <http://allmydata.org/source/tahoe/trunk/docs/install.html>
    * NB: direct source installs can be automated by using our tahoe.py script

2. Visit <http://grid.okfn.org/> and note down introducer furl

3. Set up a storage node using that introducer furl

  * Follow: <http://allmydata.org/source/tahoe/trunk/docs/running.html>
  * You are connecting to an existing grid so you do **not** need to set up
    an introducer
  * We recommend you create the storage node in the default location (~/.tahoe)
    as this makes using the node more convenient

4. Check it is working by visiting <http://127.0.0.1:3456/>

5. Set your root directory to that specified on <http://grid.okfn.org>

  * Tahoe does not have the concept of a "root" directory but instead allows
    you to create as many "parentless/anonymous" directories as you want
  * However it makes life much easier for there to be a single root directory
    for the whole system and therefore you are recommended to use the directory
    specified by the "dircap" on grid.okfn.org as your root directory.
  * In particular if using the CLI we suggest you make this directory your
    default 'alias' (see
    <http://allmydata.org/source/tahoe/trunk/docs/frontends/CLI.txt>):

        $ tahoe add-alias tahoe {ROOT-DIRCAP-FROM-grid.okfn.org}

    This aliases the 'tahoe:' alias (the default) to that directory. You will
    then be able to use the command line like:

        # list this directory
        $ tahoe ls tahoe:

        # copy local.txt from your local FS to root directory
        $ tahoe cp local.txt tahoe:
    
4. Attempt to retrieve file list (standard name)

  * If you have set up CLI as in previous step you can do

      $ taho ls tahoe: to list contents of root directory


Setting up the Grid
===================

(Ignore this unless you are the grid manager)

0. Install
1. Introducer server
  * i.grid.okfn.org (check this introducer is publicly accessible)
2. Main storage server with a public interface for uploading and downloading
  * home page: grid.okfn.org
3. Default storage node
  * default storage node: s.grid.okfn.org
3. Some other storage nodes

grid.okfn.org:
  * list introducer furl: i.grid.okfn.org
  * list the root dircap we are using


Virtual Filesystem App
======================

  1. Records name and other metadata about file
  2. Then stores in a storage server with info


Random Tahoe Links
==================

http://allmydata.org/pipermail/tahoe-dev/2009-April/001530.html
http://allmydata.org/pipermail/tahoe-dev/2009-January/000965.html

Grid Ideas:
  http://allmydata.org/pipermail/tahoe-dev/2008-May/000587.html

1. Desire to control that a given node receives certain files
  * http://allmydata.org/trac/tahoe/wiki/ServerSelection
2. Storage rebalancing
  * http://www.mail-archive.com/tahoe-dev@allmydata.org/msg00631.html