Computer Fundamentals

Dr. Abdulsalam Abdullah

Tuesday 15 October 2024

 CHAPTER 4

STORAGE
DEVICES
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

Describe the characteristics of an internal hard disk including capacity, platters, read/write heads, cylinders,
sectors and tracks, and revolutions per minute.

Discuss the purpose of network attached storage devices, external and removable hard disks, and hard
disk controllers.

Describe the various types of flash memory storage: solid state drives, memory cards, USB flash
drives, and Express Card modules.

Describe cloud storage and explain its advantages.

Describe the characteristics of optical discs.

Differentiate among various types of optical discs: CDs, archive discs and Picture CDs, DVDs, and Blu-
ray Discs.

Identify the uses of tape, magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, microfilm and microfiche, and enterprise storage
Storage
• holds data, instructions, and information for future use.
o For example, all types of users store digital photos; appointments, schedules, and contact/address information;
o correspondence, such as letters, e-mail messages; tax records; and 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.
• In addition or instead, a business user stores reports, financial records, travel records, customer orders and
invoices, vendor payments, payroll records, inventory records, presentations, quotations, and contracts. Other
users store diagrams, drawings, blueprints,
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, Express Card 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 number of bytes (characters) a storage medium can
hold. billion bytes) of storage capacity.

A storage device
is the computer hardware that records and/or retrieves items to
and from storage media.
• Writing is the process of transferring data, instructions,
and information from memory to a storage medium.
• Reading is the process of transferring these items from a
storage medium into memory.
When storage devices write data on storage media, they are
creating output. when storage devices read from storage
media, they function as a source of input.
Nevertheless, they are categorized as storage devices, not as
input or output devices.
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.
Hard Disks

• is a storage device that contains one or more inflexible, circular platters that use magnetic particles to store data,
instructions, and information.
• A hard disk that is mounted inside the system unit sometimes is called a fixed disk because it is not portable.

Traditionally, hard disks stored data using

• longitudinal recording, which aligned the magnetic particles horizontally around the surface of the disk.
• With perpendicular recording, by contrast, hard disks align the magnetic particles vertically, or perpendicular
to the disk’s surface, making much greater storage capacities possible.
• Hard disks are read/write storage media. That is, you can read from
and write on a hard disk any number of times.
Characteristics of a Hard Disk
capacity, platters, read/write heads, cylinders, sectors and tracks,
revolutions per minute, transfer rate, and access time.
RAID (redundant array of independent disks).

• 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 integrated hard disks is called 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 A network attached storage

• 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.
External and Removable Hard Disks
An external hard disk, is a separate freestanding hard disk
that connects with a cable to a USB port or FireWire port on
the system unit or communicates wirelessly.
A removable hard disk is a hard disk that you insert and
remove from a drive. A removable hard disk drive, reads
from and writes on the removable hard disk.
External and removable hard disks offer the following advantages over internal hard disks (fixed
disks):

• Transport a large number of files.

• Back up important files or an entire internal hard disk.
• Easily store large audio and video files.
• Secure your data; for example, at the end of a work, remove the hard disk, 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.
Miniature Hard Disks

• Both internal and external hard disks are

available in miniature sizes.
• These tiny hard disks have form factors of 1.8-
inch, 1 inch, and 0.85 inch.
• Devices such as portable media players, digital
cameras, and smart phones often have internal
miniature hard disks, which provide greater
storage capacities than flash memory.
• External hard disks that are smaller in size and
capacity, which also contain miniature hard
disks, are sometimes called a pocket hard
drive because they enable mobile users easily to
transport photos and other files from one
computer to another.
• Miniature hard disks have storage capacities
that range from 4 GB to 250 GB.
A disk controller
consists of a special-purpose chip and electronic circuits that control the transfer of data, instructions, and information from a
disk to and from the system bus and other components in the computer.
other types of hard disk interfaces
In addition to USB and FireWire, which can function as external hard disk interfaces, four other types of hard disk interfaces
for use in personal computers are SATA, EIDE, SCSI, and SAS.

uses serial signals to transfer data, instructions, and information. The primary advantage of SATA
1. SATA (Serial Advanced interfaces is their cables are thinner, longer, more flexible, and less susceptible to interference
Technology Attachment) than cables used by hard disks that use parallel signals.

is a hard disk interface that uses parallel signals to transfer data, instructions, and information.
2. EIDE (Enhanced Integrated EIDE interfaces can support up to four hard disks at 137 GB per disk. EIDE interfaces also
Drive Electronics) provide connections for optical disc drives and tape drives.

which also use parallel signals, can support up to eight or fifteen peripheral devices. Supported
devices include hard disks, optical disc drives, tape drives, printers, scanners, network cards, and
3. SCSI interfaces, much more. Some computers have a built-in SCSI interface, while others use an adapter card to
add a SCSI interface.

is a newer type of SCSI that uses serial signals to transfer data, instructions, and information.
4. SAS (serial-attached SCSI) Advantages of SAS over parallel SCSI include thinner, longer cables; reduced interference; less
expensive; support for many more connected devices at once; and faster speeds.
Flash Memory Storage

• As discussed in Chapter 3, flash memory is a type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased

electronically and rewritten.

• Flash memory chips are a type of solid state media, which means they consist entirely of

electronic components, such as integrated circuits, and contain no moving parts.

• The lack of moving parts makes flash memory storage more durable and shock resistant than

other types of media such as magnetic hard disks or optical discs.

• Types of flash memory storage include solid state drives, memory cards, USB flash drives,

and Express Card modules.

A Solid State Drive (SSD)
• is a storage device that typically uses flash memory to
store data, instructions, and information. With available
sizes of 3.5 inches, 2.5 inches, and 1.8 inches, SSDs are
used in all types of computers including servers, desktop
computers, and mobile computers and devices such as
portable media players and digital video cameras.
SSDs have several advantages over magnetic hard disks.
• Access times of SSDs are about 0.1 ms, which is more
than 80 times faster than a hard disk.
• Transfer rates of SSDs are faster than comparable hard
disks.
• SSDs generate less heat and consume less power than
hard disks.
• Manufacturers claim that SSDs will last more than 50
years, which is much greater than the 3 to 5 year hard
disk stated lifespan.
• The disadvantages of SSDs are
• they currently have a higher failure rate than hard
disks,
• their cost is much higher per gigabyte.
Memory Cards
• Memory cards enable mobile users easily to
transport digital photos, music, or files to and from
mobile devices and computers or other devices.
• As mentioned in Chapter 4, a memory card is a
removable flash memory device, usually no bigger
than 1.5 inches in height or width, that you insert
and remove from a slot in a computer, mobile
device, or card reader/writer.
• Common types of memory cards include
CompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), Secure
Digital High Capacity (SDHC), microSD,
microSDHC, xD Picture Card, Memory Stick, and
Memory Stick Micro (M2).
USB Flash Drives
• 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 drives are convenient for mobile users because they are small and lightweight enough to be
transported on a keychain or in a pocket.
• Current USB flash drives have storage capacities ranging from 512 MB to 64 GB, with the latter being
extremely expensive.
Express Card Modules

• 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.
• ExpressCard modules commonly are used in
notebook computers.
Cloud Storage
• Some users choose cloud storage instead of storing data locally on a hard disk or other
media.
• Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides hard disk storage to computer users.
• Types of services offered by cloud storage providers vary.
• Fee arrangements vary. For example, one cloud storage service provides 25 GB of storage
free to registered users; another charges $5 per month for 150 GB of storage.
Users subscribe to a cloud storage service for a variety of reasons:

• To access files on the Internet from any computer or device that has Internet access.

• To allow others to access their files on the Internet so that others can listen to an audio file,

watch a video clip, or view a photo — instead of e-mailing the file to them.

• To view time-critical data and images immediately while away from the main office or

location; for example, doctors can view X-ray images from another hospital, home, or office.

• To store offsite backups of data.

• To provide data center functions, relieving enterprises of this task.

Optical Discs
• An optical disc is a type of optical storage media that consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal,
plastic, and lacquer.
• These discs usually are 4.75 inches in diameter and less than one-twentieth of an inch thick.
• Optical discs primarily store software, data, digital photos, movies, and music.
• Some optical disc formats are read only, meaning users cannot write (save) on the media. Others are read/write,
which allows users to save on the disc just as they save on a hard disk.
CDs
• A CD-ROM, or compact disc read-only memory, is a type of optical disc that users can read but not write
(record) or erase hence, the name read-only.
• Manufacturers write the contents of standard CD-ROMs.
A typical CD-ROM holds from 650 MB to 1 GB of data, instructions, and information.
• CD-Rs and CD-RWs Many personal computers today include either a CD-R or CD-RW drive, or a
combination drive that includes CD-R or CD-RW capabilities, as a standard feature.
• A CD-R (compact disc-recordable) is a multisession optical disc on which users can write, but not erase, their
own items such as text, graphics, and audio. Multisession means you can write on part of the disc at one time
and another part at a later time.
• A CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable) is an erasable multisession disc you can write on multiple times. To write
on a CD-RW disc, you must have CD-RW software and a CD-RW drive.
DVDs and Blu-ray Discs
• Although the size and shape of a CD and DVD are similar, a DVD stores data, instructions, and information in a
slightly different manner and thus achieves a higher storage capacity. DVD quality also far surpasses that of
CDs because images are stored at higher resolution.
A DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc-read-only memory or digital video disc-read-only memory)
• is a high-capacity optical disc on which users can read but not write or erase. Manufacturers write the contents
of DVD-ROMs and distribute them to consumers.
• A newer, more expensive DVD format is Blu-ray, which is a higher capacity and better quality than standard
DVDs, especially for high-definition audio and video.
A Blu-ray Disc (BD)
• has storage capacities of 100 GB, with expectations of exceeding 200 GB in the future. Blu-ray Disc drives and
players are backward compatible with DVD and CD formats.
Other Types of Storage

TAPE Magnetic Stripe Cards and Microfilm and Microfiche

One of the first storage media Smart Cards store microscopic images of
used with mainframe A magnetic stripe card is a documents on roll or sheet
computers was tape. Tape is credit card, entertainment film.
a magnetically coated ribbon card, bank card, or other Microfilm is a 100- to 215-
of plastic capable of storing similar card, with a stripe that foot roll of film.
large amounts of data and contains information Microfiche is a small sheet of
information at a low cost. identifying you and the card. film, usually about 4 3 6
Tape no longer is used as a A smart card, which is inches. A computer output
primary method of storage. similar in size to a credit card microfilm
Instead, business users or ATM card stores data on a recorder is the device that
utilize tape most often for thin microprocessor records the images on
long-term storage and embedded in the card. the film.
backup
Other Types of Storage