System and method requiring zero insertion force and positive retention of removable storage media in a data storage subsystem

A data storage system, comprising:

• a backplane adapted to interface with a processor;
• a backplane connector interconnected with the backplane and having at least one first interfacing element;
• a data storage assembly for the data storage system;
• an assembly connector mounted to the data storage assembly and having at least one second interfacing element for interconnecting with the first interfacing element;
• and wherein
• the assembly and backplane connectors (a) require zero-insertion force to join the data storage assembly to the backplane, (b) electrically interface and mechanically couple the data storage assembly with the backplane, and (c) provide positive retention of the data storage assembly with the backplane.

A disk drive library, comprising:

• a host computer;
• a backplane for interfacing with the host computer;
• a plurality of backplane connectors interconnected with the backplane, each having at least one first interfacing element;
• a plurality of disk drive assemblies;
• a picker for handling the disk drive assemblies relative to the backplane;
• an assembly connector mounted to each of the disk drive assemblies and having at least one second interfacing element for interconnecting with the first interfacing element;
• wherein
• each of the assembly and backplane connectors comprises an electrically conductive component and a magnetic component;
• and wherein
• the assembly and backplane connectors (a) require zero-insertion force to join the disk drive assembly to the backplane, (b) electrically interface and mechanically couple the disk drive assembly with the backplane, and (c) provide positive retention of the disk drive assembly with the backplane.