The XAM (eXtensible Access Method) Interface specification defines a standard access method (API) between "Consumers" (application and management software) and "Providers" (storage systems) to manage fixed content reference information storage services. XAM includes metadata definitions to accompany data to achieve application interoperability, storage transparency, and automation for ILM-based practices, long term records retention, and information security. XAM will be expanded over time to include other data types as well as support additional implementations based on the XAM API to XAM conformant storage systems.

The XAM specification is published in 3 parts as follows:

  • XAM - Part 1: Architecture - This document is intended to be used by two broad audiences. The first audience consists of application programmers who wish to use the XAM Application Programmers Interface (API) to create, access, manage, and query reference content through standardized methods that are collectively referred to as XAM (eXtensible Access Method). The second audience consists of those those storage system vendors who are creating vendor interface modules (VIMs).
  • XAM - Part 2: C API - This document is a complete reference document for C application development using the XAM API. It is intended for experienced programmers, for those developing applications that interface with storage systems that support the XAM API, and for those developing components of the XAM Library itself. For an overview of the SNIA XAM, refer to the Business Overview chapter in the XAM Architecture Specification.
  • XAM - Part 3: JAVA API -This document is a complete reference document for Java application development using the XAM API. It is intended for experienced programmers, for those developing applications that interface with storage systems which support the XAM API, and for those developing components of the XAM Library itself.

For more information on the XAM Specifications, please join the XAM Developers Group. The community is aimed at sharing best practices, expert advice, first-hand experiences and links to critical XAM resources.

XAM v1.0.1