I read this question a little differently: Can a client use a locally
attached tape drive?  The answer to that question is no.  In order to use a
tape drive, the ADSM server software must be installed.  In the case of
large nodes with tape drives, perhaps it makes sense to deploy multiple
ADSM servers.  In some cases this may be less expensive, but by the time
you consider device support, etc., perhaps not.  ADSM was designed as a
client server, centralized tape, backup package.

Kelly