Patent ID: 8103616

Claim:
A removable disk system for archiving data files and for creating an audit trail of actions associated with archival data files stored in the removable disk system, the removable disk system comprising: one or more removable disk drives, the one or more removable disk drives operable to store archival data files, each removable disk drive comprising: a data cartridge case; a connector; an embedded memory, the embedded memory physically attached to the data cartridge case, the embedded memory electrically connected to the connector, the embedded memory operable to store archival data files; one or more drive ports, each drive port including a data cartridge connector which mates with the connector to communicate with the embedded memory, the one or more drive ports in communication with one or more application servers, the one or more drive ports receiving the archival data files from the one or more application servers and sending the archival data files to the embedded memory for storage, wherein each drive port is separately addressable to customize control for each removable disk drive; a database separate from the one or more removable disk drives, the database storing an audit trail about a plurality of auditable actions completed against the archival data files stored in the removable disk drives, the plurality of auditable actions including storing a new archival data file, and performing an action associated with previously archived data; an archival management system in communication with the one or more application servers and the database, the archival management system configured to: receive a request for an archival action from one of the application servers, determine that the received archival action is one of the plurality of auditable actions, if it is determined that the received archival action is for storing a new archival data file, create a new audit trail entry in the database and store audit trail information associated with the received request in the new audit trail entry, if it is determined that the received archival action is for performing an action associated with a previously archived data file, identify an existing audit trail entry associated with the previously archived data file in the database, and store audit trail information associated with the received request in the existing audit trail entry.