dCache is a system for storing and retrieving huge amounts of data, distributed among a large number of heterogeneous server nodes, under a single virtual filesystem tree with a variety of standard access methods. Depending on the Persistency Model, dCache provides methods for exchanging data with backend (tertiary) Storage Systems as well as space management, pool attraction, dataset replication, hot spot determination and recovery from disk or node failures. Connected to a tertiary storage system, the cache simulates unlimited direct access storage space. Data exchanges to and from the underlying HSM are performed automatically and invisibly to the user. Beside HEP specific protocols, data in dCache can be accessed via NFSv4.1 (pNFS), FTP as well as through WebDav.

dCache is a joined effort between [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY] (http://www.desy.de), [Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory] (http://www.fnal.gov) and [Nordic DataGrid Facility] (http://www.ndgf.org).

The project is licensed under AGPL v3. Some parts licensed under BSD and LGPL. See the source code for details.

####For more info, check official [dCache.ORG] (http://www.dcache.org) web page.####

The file BUILDING.md describes how to compile dCache code and build various packages.

The file also describes how to create the system-test deployment, which provides a quick and easy way to get a working dCache. Running system-test requires no special privileges and all the generated files reside within the code-base.