1. A multimedia data storage system for storing multimedia data comprising a media server which stores media data on a short-term basis, and a media archive which stores media data on a long-term basis relative to the media server, said media archive being connected to said media server for transmission of media data therebetween; wherein said media server operates as a cache device for said media archive, and wherein a volume of the media data stored in said media server is controlled based on user-defined parameters; wherein said media server has a maximum storage capacity, and wherein a second parameter of the user defined parameters is an upper capacity volume which is no more than the maximum storage capacity of said media server, said media server reducing the volume of the media data stored therein if the volume of the media data is greater than the upper capacity volume; wherein said media server reduces the volume of the media data stored therein until the volume reaches a lower capacity volume of said media server which corresponds to a third parameter of the user-defined parameters; wherein the media data stored in said media server includes first and second portions, the first portion of the media data corresponding to a portion of the media data which remains after reduction of the volume of the media data, the second portion of media data corresponding to a portion of the media data which is to be deleted from said media server during reduction of the volume of the media data; and wherein the second portion of the media data is stored in said media archive prior to being deleted from said media server during reduction of the volume of the media data.