D

Data path

The software used by the application to read and write data to a medium. This is made up of a device driver and a small interface layer.

Deallocate

Return media to the Available state after the media has been used by an application.

Decommissioned state

Media in the decomissioned state are no longer usable.

Drive

A device used to write and read physical media. Drives can be in a library unit or stand-alone (directly accessible by the user).