Storage

• Storage holds data, instructions, and information for future use. For example, all types of users store digitals photos; appoinments, schedules, and contact/address information; correspondence, such as letters, e-mail massages; tax records; Web Pages. A home user also might store budgets, bank statements, a household inventory, records of stock purchases, tax information, homework assignments, recipes, music, and videos.

          

           A storage medium (media is the plural), also called secondary storage, is the physical material on which a computer keeps data, instructions, and information. Examples of storage media are hard disks, solid state drives, memory cards, USB flash drives, ExpressCard modules, optical discs, smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, and microfilm. Cloud storage is another storage option, in which the actual storage media  used is transparent to the user.

          

           Capacity is the the number of byte (characters) a storage medium can hold. For example, a reasonably priced USB flash drive can store up to 4 GB of data (approximately four billion bytes) and a typical hard disk has 320 GB (approximately 320 billion bytes) of storage capacity.

         

A storage device is the computer hardware that records and/ or retrives items to and form storage media. Writing is the process of transferring these data, instructions, and information from memory to a storage medium. Reading is the process of transferring these items from a storage medium into memory.

          

           The speed of storage devices is defined by access time. Access time measures the amount of time it takes a storage device to locate an item on a storage medium. The access time of storage devices is slow, compared with the access time of memory.

HARD DISKS

A hard disks is the storage device that contains one or more inflexible, circular platters that use magnetic particles to store data, instructions, and information. The system unit on most desktop and notebook computers contains at least one hard disks. The entire device is enclosed in an airtight, sealed case to protect it from contamination. A hard disk that is mounted inside the system unit sometimes is called a fixed disks because it is not portable

   

       

With respect to a storage medium, the term portable means you can remove the medium from one computer and carry it to another computer.

           

           Current personal computer hard disks have storage capacities from 160 GB to 2 TB and more. Home users store documents, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, e-mail messages, Web Pages, digital photos, music, videos and software on hard disks. Business use are hard disks to store correcspondence, reports, financial records, e-mail messages, customer order and invoices, payroll records, inventory records, presentations, contracts, marketing literature, schedules and Web sites.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HARD DISK

•       Capacity
•        Platters
•        Read/write heads
•        Cylinders
•        Sectors and tracks
•        Revolutions per minute
•        Transfer rate
•        Access time

Formatting is the process of dividing the disk into tracks and sectors so that the operating system can store and locate data information on the disk

           This close clearances leaves no room for any type of contaimintion. Dirt, hair, dust, smoke, and other particles could cause the hard disk to have a head crash. A head crash occurs when a read/write head touches the surface of the platter, usually resulting in a loss of data or sometimes loss of the entire disk. Thus, it is crucial that you back up your hard disk regularly.

RAID

Some personal computer manufacturers provide a hard disk configuration that connects multiple smaller disks into a single unit that acts like a single large hard disk. A group of two or more intergrated hard disks is called a RAID (redundant array of independent disks). RAID is an ideal storage solution for users who must have the data available when they attempt to access it.

NAS

           A network attached storage (NAS) device is a server connected to a network with the sole purpose of providing storage. Any user or device connected to the network can access files on the NAS device. These devices often use a RAID configuration. In the past, enterprises were the primary users of NAS. With the introduction of smaller, less expensive NAS devices, however, some home and small business users opt to add up to 6 TB or more of hard disk storage space to their network with NAS device.

External and removable hard disks

•        an external hard disk is a separate free-standing hard disk that connects to your computer with a cable or wirelessly
•        a removable hard disk is a hard disk that you insert and remove from a drive
•        internal and external hard disks are available in miniature sizes (miniature hard disks)

advantages:

•       transport a large number of files
•       back up important files or an entire internal hard disk (several external hard disk models allow you to back up simply by pushing a button on the disk)
•       easily store large audio and video files
•       secure your data; for example, at the end of the work session, remove the hard disk and lock it up, leaving no data in the computer
•       add storage space to a notebook computer, including netbooks and Tablet PCs
•       add storage space to a desktop computer without having to open the system unit or connect to a network

flash memory storage

           flash memory is a type of non-volatile memory that can be erased electronically and rewritten. Flash memory chips are a type of solid state media, which mean they consists entirely of electronic components, such as integrated circuits, and contain no moving parts.

Memory cards

          Memory cards enable mobile users easily to transport digital photos, music, or files to and from mobile devices and computer or other devices.

USB fLASH dRIVE

           A USB flash drive, sometimes called a thumb drive, is a flash memory storage device that plugs in a USB port on a computer or mobile device. USB flash drive are convenient for mobile users because they are small and lightweight enough to be transported on a keychain or in a pocket.

ExpressCard Modules

           An ExpressCard module is a removable device, about 75 mm long and 34 mm wide or L-shaped with a width of 54 mm, that fits in an ExpressCard slot. ExpressCard modules can be used to add memory, storage, communications, multimedia, and security capabilities to a computer. It is commonly used in notebook computers.

 

Cloud storage

           Is an internet service that provides hard disk storage to computer users. Types of services offered by cloud storage providers vary.

Optical discs

•        an optical disc consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is written and read by a laser
•        typically store software, data, digital photos, movies, and music