1587771 : Problem accessing files on PNFS

Created: 2026-03-27T07:39:27Z - current status: open

Here is the anonymized and summarized report:

Summary of Issue

A user is experiencing difficulties accessing specific files stored on PNFS (e.g., /pnfs/desy.de/belle/local/group/[EXPERIMENT_GROUP]/[PATH_TO_FILE]). While the files can be listed (e.g., via ls), attempts to open them with ROOT or copy them to another location fail. The user suspects a potential issue with PNFS and requests confirmation.

Suggested Solution/Next Steps

  1. Verify File Permissions:
  2. Check if the file has the correct read permissions for the user/group: bash ls -l /pnfs/desy.de/belle/local/group/[EXPERIMENT_GROUP]/[PATH_TO_FILE]

  3. Ensure the user’s Kerberos ticket is valid (see below).

  4. Check Kerberos Authentication:

  5. PNFS access often requires a valid KRB ticket. Run: bash klist

  6. If expired, renew it with: bash kinit

  7. Test Alternative Access Methods:

  8. Try accessing the file via dCache (e.g., using dccp or gfal-copy): bash gfal-copy gsiftp://dcache-door-desy.desy.de/pnfs/desy.de/belle/local/group/[PATH_TO_FILE] /local/destination/

  9. Contact Support:

  10. If the issue persists, report it to the Belle II-specific NAF support team: Email: naf-belle-support@desy.de (Include the file path, error messages, and steps already attempted.)

  11. For general issues, contact UCO: uco@desy.de.

  12. Check for Known Outages:

  13. Monitor the DESY IT status page or experiment-specific channels for announcements.

Sources Used

  1. NAF Support Contacts
  2. PNFS/dCache Troubleshooting (DESY Docs) (for Kerberos context).