In locations where it is difficult to configure and manage tapes because of operational issues, Plug and Play (PnP) storage devices (for example, FireWire, USB, SATA storage devices, and so on) can be used for storage instead of tapes. Once the PnP disks are configured, they are treated like tapes in a stand-alone drive.
Disk devices that do not retain the operating system drive letter when they are disconnected or unloaded can be configured as PnP disk libraries (for example, USB flash drives, and so on).
Note
Support for devices like USB, FireWire, and SATA storage devices is not dependant on any specific vendor make or model. These devices are considered supported as long as the host operating system detects the devices as disk targets. Therefore, these device types are not listed within the Tape Storage Compatibility Matrix.
Configuring PnP Disk Libraries
To use a PnP disk, you must first configure a library on the MediaAgent where you plan to use the device. Only one PnP library can be configured per MediaAgent. Although multiple drives can be configured, only single-streamed jobs are supported. (Multiple drives provide the ability to span across multiple media for a single-streamed job.)
For more information, see Configuring PnP Disk Libraries.
PnP Disk Libraries and Storage Policies
You can create multiple Primary and/or Secondary copies to access a PnP library. Each storage policy copy will write to a different media. Data will be written to an available/scratch media loaded in the drive, or request for a new media if currently none is available, or if a media used by another copy is currently loaded in the drive.