A storage system, comprising: a storage system assembly positioned at a height that is greater than a height of a tool used for handling substrates to be processed, the storage system configured to locally store one or more containers of substrates before or after being processed by the tool, the storage system assembly, including, a frame; a base plate coupled to the frame, the base plate includes a drive pulley, an idler pulley, a belt, a track and a motor; a plurality of storage shelves, each of the plurality of storage shelves have shelf plates with shelf features for supporting a container, and each of the plurality of storage shelves being coupled to the belt to enable movement and being coupled to the track to enable guiding to one or more positions; wherein the motor is coupled to the drive pulley for moving the belt, such that each of the plurality of storage shelves move together along the track to the one or more positions, the track having at least some sections that are linear and some sections that are nonlinear and the sections are arranged in a loop over the base plate; and characterized by an active port assembly (117, 118) connected to the frame of the storage system assembly, the active port assembly having a port plate positioned at one of the positions along the track, the active port assembly further including, a horizontal motion assembly (119a-1) defining an extended position outside of the frame and a retracted position inside the frame; and a vertical motion assembly (119a-2), the vertical motion assembly being coupled to the port plate having port features, and the vertical motion assembly defining an up position and a down position, the horizontal motion assembly being coupled to the vertical motion assembly; wherein the retracted position of the horizontal motion assembly (119a-1) places the port plate under one of the shelf plates when in the down position; wherein the retracted position of the horizontal motion assembly (119a-1) places the port plate above one of the shelf plates when in the up position. a frame; a base plate coupled to the frame, the base plate includes a drive pulley, an idler pulley, a belt, a track and a motor; a plurality of storage shelves, each of the plurality of storage shelves have shelf plates with shelf features for supporting a container, and each of the plurality of storage shelves being coupled to the belt to enable movement and being coupled to the track to enable guiding to one or more positions; wherein the motor is coupled to the drive pulley for moving the belt, such that each of the plurality of storage shelves move together along the track to the one or more positions, the track having at least some sections that are linear and some sections that are nonlinear and the sections are arranged in a loop over the base plate; and characterized by an active port assembly (117, 118) connected to the frame of the storage system assembly, the active port assembly having a port plate positioned at one of the positions along the track, the active port assembly further including, a horizontal motion assembly (119a-1) defining an extended position outside of the frame and a retracted position inside the frame; and a vertical motion assembly (119a-2), the vertical motion assembly being coupled to the port plate having port features, and the vertical motion assembly defining an up position and a down position, the horizontal motion assembly being coupled to the vertical motion assembly; wherein the retracted position of the horizontal motion assembly (119a-1) places the port plate under one of the shelf plates when in the down position; wherein the retracted position of the horizontal motion assembly (119a-1) places the port plate above one of the shelf plates when in the up position.