Data analysis and archiving system

In connection with the new data acquisition system related to the new detector controller, a new data storage and analysis system is being planned. However, the current system we use is aging and we are considering to replace the hardware we use to make copies of the observations to DVD for the observer and for the archive. In particular, we are considering to separate the copying of data for the observers and for archiving, where for archiving purposes a system can be made that better uses the capacity of the DVDs (or, for that matter, Blu-ray disks) in a more optimal way. E.g., the latter could be a system that simply saves all the data generated by all observing systems as soon as some criteria related to the total amount of data are met. For observers a system is considered where all the data during an observing run is saved and only handed over at the end of the run, not every night. Here we are thinking of providing a form, e.g., similar to the instrument set-up form, in which observers can indicate if they plan to copy the data themselves, or want one or more copies of the data on media (possibly providing address details where to send the data). On the basis of the policy we want to implement the proper hardware requirements can be defined.