Media Management for Windows Server 2003 Backup and the Remote Storage Service

Remote Storage and Windows Server 2003 Backup use the Removable Storage service to allocate and deallocate media. The media can be managed using the Removable Storage console in the Computer Management Administrative Tools. The Removable Storage service allocates and deallocates media for these services by allowing each service to access media in media sets created for the respective program.

Media Pools

The Windows Server 2003 Removable Storage service organizes media within media pools so that policies and permissions can be applied and different functions can be performed. For example, the backup media pool is allocated for media created using Windows Server 2003 Backup. Only users granted the privilege to back up or restore the system, or administer the removable media service, have access to this media pool.

Free Pool

The free pool contains media that can be used by any backup or archiving software that utilizes the Windows Server 2003 Removable Storage service. Media in this pool are usually blank media or media marked as clean, and can be overwritten and reallocated.

Remote Storage Pool

The remote storage pool is used on a server only if the Remote Storage server has been installed. This pool stores media allocated for the Remote Storage service. If no tape is found, the device reallocates media from the free pool.

Imported Pool

When media are inserted into a tape device and inventory is run, if the media are not blank and not already allocated to the remote storage pool or backup media pool, they are stored in the imported media pool. If the media are known to have been created with Windows Server 2003 Backup, opening the backup program and performing a catalog should be sufficient to reallocate this media to the backup pool set.

Backup Pool

The backup pool contains all the media allocated to the Windows Server 2003 Backup program.

Custom Media Pools

Custom media pools can be created if special removable media options are required. Media pool options are very limited in Windows Server 2003, and there should be no compelling reason to create a custom media pool.