Evolving the LHCOPN and LHCONE networks to support HL-LHC computing requirements

Abstract

The LHCOPN network, which links CERN to all the WLCG Tier 1s, and the LHCONE network, which connects WLCG Tier1s and Tier2s, have successfully provided the necessary bandwidth for the distribution of the data generated by the LHC experiments during first two runs of the LHC accelerator. We give here an overview of the most significant achievements and the current state of the two networks. It also explains how the two networks are evolving to support Run-3 and how they are preparing to meet the high demands foreseen for Run-4, notably by adopting new transmission technologies to increase the available bandwidth, introducing new software tools to improve the efficient utilization of all the links, as well as new monitoring capabilities to increase the understanding of the network traffic.