DVD Jukebox Media Server - Network Optical Drive & CD Jukebox (2025)

What Exactly is a CD or DVD Jukebox?

PrimeArray CD/DVD servers are “Virtual” Jukeboxes – Much Faster and More Flexible than Actual Jukeboxes.

PrimArray has introduced specialized servers that automatically copy, index and catalogue any media inserted. Giving you a virtual jukebox, small box, big power with massive capacities.

PrimeArray CD/DVD serversare “virtual” jukeboxes, and are the best way to host CD and DVD resources for users to share over your network. PrimeArray systems has developed the technology that made the conventional dvd optical jukebox obsolete with our virtual dvd / cd / bluray optical jukebox systems and cd / dvd / Bluray optical servers.

Software and Hard-Disk Caching Beats the Jukebox - Hands Down!

CD DVD BluRay Optical servers use software and hard-disk caching / indexing to automatically and rapidly store ISO images of the CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs even Blu-ray ROMs , any optical disc. Any number of users can quickly and easily access the material they need when and where they need it. If you like, you can map a drive to a disc or group of discs for foolproof access.
These devices connect directly to your network saving the cost of a separate server and network software license. Each unit comes with software to facilitate adding, replacing, updating, managing and deleting titles easily. The software copies the exact disc image to the hard drive for users to access. The original CD or DVD Bluray / optical media can be put in a safe place for backup.
The hard drive storage not only provides a wider range of capacities (current models range from a few discs to thousands), but also delivers faster retrieval and better support for multiple users. The cost per disc of these caching (hard drive) devices is considerably lower than with a tower.

Loading and sharing out a disc on a general purpose server takes a number of steps. This is fine for one or two discs, but is a real chore for large collections or subscriptions where new discs are coming in each month to replace old ones. With the CD/DVD server, you stick the disc in the reader and it does the rest. The drive will pop open ready for the next disc (two and a half minutes for a full CD).

A true jukebox on the other hand holds many CDs or DVDs in a tray, or carousel. When a disc is requested, a robotic mechanism physically locates the disc and mechanically loads it into an optical reader. Loading the discs is quite rapid, but accessing them is anything but. With its many moving parts, access speed and reliability can be an issue. PrimeArray does not sell this type of jukebox.

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Note: CD/DVD servers and DVD Jukeboxes (virtual) are not designed to handle audio CDs or copy- protected DVD movies.

Let’s compare network CD/DVD servers vs. jukeboxes across a range of attributes:

Virtual DVD Jukeboxes hold a fixed number of discs. For those with only a handful of discs to share, it’s overkill. For those with many hundreds of discs, it may require multiple jukeboxes. CD/DVD servers on the other hand can be configured to each customer’s specific needs, from just holding just a few to holding several thousand discs. They’re all in one place and there’s only a single system to manage.

Accessing data from the CD/DVD server’s hard drive can be up to ten times faster than from an optical drive. Add to that the time it takes a jukebox to load the disc into a reader and the CD/DVD server user might be done with his tasks by the time a jukebox user is getting his data!

One of the reasons for getting a network storage device to hold discs is so multiple users can use a disc at the same time. The hard disk access in the CD/DVD server provides far better response for multiple users.

With its one or perhaps two optical readers, the jukebox will only allow that many titles to be viewed at one time. Whereas in the server, a single user or multiple users can access multiple titles simultaneously.

With a CD/DVD server, titles can be categorized into logical groupings. Drives letters can be mapped to individual discs or groups of disc for easy access.

Few moving parts means leads to greater reliability, lower maintenance and more uptime.

Some software titles might come with a specified number of seat licenses. PrimeArray CD/DVD servers will allow the administrator to set limits for the number of simultaneous access to specific discs.

An organization might want to limit access or control access to various groups of discs. PrimeArray CD/DVD servers will enable the administrator to restrict access to any disc or group of discs. PrimeArray systems will also integrate with Active Directory to facilitate this task.

At a price that is competitive with, and perhaps lower than jukeboxes, CD/DVD servers provide far greater value for virtually all CD or DVD optical hosting applications.

Essentially, CD/DVD servers are super virtual jukeboxes. They perform the same function as a CD/DVD jukebox, but with higher performance, greater flexibility and a wider range of capacities, making them a better choice for network data sharing.

Need help choosing what product is best for you? Speak with an Advisor!