Microsoft KB Archive/236923

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INFO: Removable Media Drive Access

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Q236923

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API), on platform(s):
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

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SUMMARY
Windows 2000 includes a new service called Removable Storage Manager (RSM). This service manages the sharing of such removable media drives as tape, magneto optical, CD-R, and CD-RW drives. Applications that use these types of devices must be modified to take this new service into account.

MORE INFORMATION
The Removable Storage Manager manages media under Windows 2000. Windows 2000 must manage contention for shared removable media drives because of the new hierarchical storage (HSM) capabilities. RSM is the mechanism by which applications can request access to removable media and ensure that HSM will still work properly. For example, backup software uses RSM to mount and write to tape drives.