Overview of Removable Storage
Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista
You can use Removable Storage to easily track your removable storage media (tapes and optical disks) and to manage the libraries that contain them (such as changers and jukeboxes).
Removable Storage does the following:
Labels, catalogs, and tracks media.
Controls library drives, slots, and doors.
Provides drive-cleaning operations.
This component works with your data-management programs, such as Backup. You use data-management programs to manage the actual data stored on the media. Removable Storage makes it possible for multiple programs to share the same storage media resources, which can reduce your costs.
Removable Storage organizes all the media in your libraries into different media pools. It also moves media between media pools in order to provide the amount of data storage your applications require.
Removable Storage does not provide volume management, such as for media siding or striping. Also, Removable Storage does not provide file management, such as for data backup or disk-extender operations. These services are provided by data-management applications such as Backup or Remote Storage.
You must run all your data-management programs on the same computer that connects to your library. Removable Storage does not support multiple data-management programs running on different computers that are connected to the same library.
For more information about Removable Storage, including concepts, managing security, and best practices, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=63992.