XAM

This article is about the storage standard. For other uses, see Xam.

XAM, or the eXtensible Access Method, is a computer-storage standard developed and maintained by the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA). It is in the process of being ratified as an ANSI standard. XAM is an API for fixed content aware storage devices. XAM replaces the various proprietary interfaces that have been used for this purpose in the past. Content generating applications now have a standard means of saving and finding their content across a broad array of storage devices.

XAM is similar in function to a file system API such as the POSIX file and directory operations, in that it allows applications to store and retrieve their data. XAM stores application data in XSet objects that also contain metadata.

See also

• Content-addressable storage

External links

• XAM Initiative – Provides good material both at the overview and detail level
• XAM SDK download – An open source reference implementation of the API
• XAM Developers Group – Provides information to assist developers working with XAM