Technically Speaking

Windows Server 2003 brings forward many of the features first introduced in Windows 2000 one of those applications is the Removable Storage snap-in available in the Computer Management Console.

This tip will look at this snap-in and how it can make maintaining a Windows Server 2003 system a little easier.

The snap-in can be accessed by right clicking My Computer (on the Windows Server 2003 Start Menu) and selecting Manage. This will start the Computer Management Console. In the left pane you will find both the Removable Storage Object. Selecting it with a single left click will put its contents in the larger right pane of the console.

Removable Storage

The removable storage snap-in allows administrators to manage tape backup libraries and media sets within Windows Server 2003, the snap-in also contains CD-Rom drives. The categories of devices listed within the removable storage snap-in are as follows:

• Media – displays a listing of all of the media used with the system
• Media Pools – displays a listing of the available media pools, which when expanded show the media assigned to each pool
• Libraries – displays a listing of libraries available for use by the system; also allows access to libraries and their media
• Work Queue – displays the status of current operations in process on the Windows Server 2003 system
• Operator Requests – displays a listing of the requests submitted via the removable storage snap-in and other applications

A media pool is a collection of media units that can be managed together. The existing media pools available in Windows Server 2003 are:

· Unrecognized – This pool contains media that removable storage does not recognize or that has not been written to as of yet.

· Free – Media contained in this media pool are available for use and do not contain data

· Import – Media contained in this pool has been used before by removable storage, perhaps with another server

· Application – User created media pools associated with and managed by specific applications, for example Windows Backup

Automated and non-automated libraries require different techniques to mount and begin using media. When using a non-automated library, you will insert a tape manually, if removable storage recognizes the media it will mount it and place it in the correct media pool. If the media is not mounted you can mount it by right clicking on the media within the media group in Removable Storage and select Mount.

Disabling media and devices

Within Removable Storage you can disable both individual tapes and tape drives. You might disable a specific tape to prevent use temporarily or to remove bad tapes from rotation.

To disable a piece of media, complete the following steps:

1. Double click the libraries object in the left pane of the Computer Management Console under Removable Storage
2. Expand the correct library and drive by double clicking first the library object and then the drive object beneath it
3. Right click the media you wish to disable (or enable) and select properties
4. On the general tab of the Properties dialog for the media, clear the enable media checkbox to disable the media (check the box to enable this media).

Disabling a drive follows a similar process detailed below:

1. Double click the libraries object in the left pane of the Computer Management Console under Removable Storage
2. Expand the correct library by double clicking the library object
3. Right click the device within the library that you wish to disable
4. Select properties
5. On the general tab of the Properties dialog for the drive, clear the enable drive check box to disable the drive (check the box to enable this drive).

As you can see the Removable Storage snap-in allows simple maintenance of removable media for backup and other uses within Windows Server 2003. In future tips I will explore each aspect of the snap-in in greater detail.