A media library assembly (10) includes a host controller (12), a first
data transfer assembly (18A) and a second data transfer assembly (18B),
which can be remotely positioned from the first data transfer assembly
(18A). The host controller (12) sends a first command signal to the first
data transfer assembly (18A) to request a transfer of a first block of
data relative to a target storage media (22). The first data transfer
assembly (18A) receives the first command signal, determines the location
of the target storage media (22), and initiates a second command signal
to the second data transfer assembly (18B) to request the transfer of the
first block of data relative to the target storage media (22). The second
data transfer assembly (18B) transfers the first block of data relative
to the target storage media (22) in response to the second command
signal. The first data transfer assembly (18A) then returns a status to
the host controller (12) regarding the transfer of the first block of
data. The first block of data can be transmitted between the first data
transfer assembly (18A) and the second data transfer assembly (18B) via
an Ethernet connection, a Fibre Channel connection, or via the Internet,
over wired or wireless connections. The second command signal occurs
transparently to the host controller (12).