Storing files externally in MOSS to bridge ECM requirements

For those who have been with me from the beginning know that I’ve spoken quite a lot about ECM CAS (Content Addressed Storage) & HSM systems and the lack of storing files externally (ON HSM systems for instance, or file systems) in MOSS. This was one of the major drawbacks in comparison with the top of the market ECM suppliers.

I’ve blogged a long time ago about the the External Storage API, which was back then called BLOB API. You can read more about CAS & HSM in my ECM series here.

Quite recently Pav Cherney wrote an article on TechNet on how to implement your own storage provider using the ISPExternalBinaryProvider interface. This excellent article explains in detail what you need to implement your own external storage API.

Go have a look at his article here.

More on the ISPExternalBinaryProvider interface:

• MSDN: The ISPExternalBinaryProvider 
• StoragePoint: Uses the ISPExternalBinaryProvider in their application