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Data Storage

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41 views6 pages

Data Storage

Uploaded by

adeeko adekunle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DATA STORAGE

Data storage is the recording (storing) of information (data) in a storage medium. Data storage is
a general term for archiving data for use by a computer or device . Data storage is the collective
methods and technologies that capture and retain digital information on electromagnetic,
optical, or silicon-based storage media.
STORAGE DEVICES
A storage device is used in the computers to store the data. Provides one of the core functions
of the modern computer.
Types of Storage
There are four type of storage:
1. Primary Storage
2. Secondary Storage
3. Tertiary Storage
4. Off-line Storage

A) PRIMARY STORAGE
•Also known as main memory.

•Main memory is directly or in directly connected to the central processing unit via a memory
bus.

•The CPU continuously reads instructions stored there and executes the mas required.

•Examples include: RAM, ROM & Cache.

RAM
•It is called Random Access Memory because any of the data in RAM can be accessed just as
fast as any of the other data. There are two types of RAM:

–DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)

–SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)

Static RAM Dynamic RAM

•Faster •Slower
•More expensive •Less expensive
•More power consumption •Less power consumption

•Does not need to be refreshed •Needs to be refreshed thousands


ROM
•This memory is used as the computer begins to boot up. Small programs called firmware are
often stored in ROM chips on hardware devices (like a BIOS chip), and they contain
instructions the computer can use in performing some of the

most basic operations required to operate hardware


devices. ROM memory cannot be easily or quickly over written or modified.

Cache
• Cache is a high-speed access area that can be either a reserved section of main memory or
a storage device.
• Most computers today come with L3 cache or L2 cache, while older computers included
only L1 cache.

B) SECONDARY STORAGE
• It is not directly accessible by the CPU.
• Computer usually uses its input/output channels to access secondary storage and transfers
the desired data using intermediate area in primary storage.
• Example: – Hard disk

Hard Disk
• The hard disk drive is the main, and usually largest, data storage device in a computer.
•It can store anywhere from 160 gigabytes to 2 terabytes.
• Hard disk speed is the speed at which content can be read and written on a hard disk.
• A hard disk unit comes with a set rotation speed varying from 4500 to 7200 rpm.
• Disk access time is measured in milliseconds.

Internal Hard disk External Hard disk


Portability No Yes
Price Less expensive More expensive
Speed Fast Slow
Size Big Small
C) TERTIARY STORAGE
Typically, it involves a robotic mechanism which will mount (insert) and dismount removable
mass storage media into a storage device. It is a comprehensive computer storage system
that is usually very slow, so it is usually used to archive data that is not accessed frequently.
This is primarily useful for extraordinarily large data stores, accessed without human
operators. Examples include: Magnetic Tape & Optical Disc

Magnetic Tape
• A magnetically coated strip of plastic on which data can be encoded.
• Tapes for computers are like tapes used to store music.
• Tape is much less expensive than other storage mediums but commonly a much slower
solution that is commonly used for backup.

Optical Disc
• Optical disc is any storage media that holds content in digital format and is read using a laser
assembly is considered optical media.
• The most common types of optical media are

CD (Compact Disc) DVD (Digital Versatile Disc BD (Blu-ray)


Capacity 700MB 4.7GB –17GB 50GB
Wavelength 780nm 650nm 405nm
Read/Write Speed 1200KB/s 10.5MB/s 36MB/s
Example •CD-ROM, •DVD-ROM •BD-R
•CD-R •DVD+R/RW •BD-RE
•CD-RW •DVD-R/RW
•DVD-RAM
D) OFF-LINE STORAGE
• Also known as disconnected storage.
•Is a computer data storage on a medium or a device that is not under the control of a processing
unit. It must be inserted or connected by a human operator before a computer can access it
again. Examples: – Floppy Disk – Zip diskette – USB Flash drive – Memory card
Floppy Disk
• A soft magnetic disk. Floppy disks are portable and are slower to access than hard disks and
have less storage capacity, but they are much less expensive. It can store data up to 1.44MB.
Two common sizes are 5 ¼” and 3 ½”.

5 ¼ inch Floppy Disk 3 ½ inch Floppy Disk

Zip Diskette
• Hardware data storage device developed by Iomega that
functions like a Standard 1.44" floppy drive. Capable to hold
up to 100 MB of data or 250 MB of data on new drives. Now it
less popular as users needed larger storage capabilities.

USB Flash Drive


• A small, portable flash memory card that plugs into a
computer’s USB port and functions as a portable hard drive.
• Flash drives are available in sizes such as 256MB, 512MB,
1GB, 5GB, and 16GB and are an easy way to transfer and
store information.

Memory Card
• An electronic flash memory storage disk commonly used in consumer electronic devices such
as digital cameras, MP3 players, mobile phones, and other small portable devices. Memory
cards are usually read by connecting the device containing the card to your computer, or by
using a USB card reader.
Secure Digital card (SD) MiniSD Memory card reader
Other Example of Storage Devices include Punch card (Hollerith cards, Cloud storage, RAID
(array of independent/inexpensive) disks)
Cloud Storage examples: – Google Drive – Flickr – Microsoft Sky Drive

UNITS OF STORAGE

Note: Bits are the basic building blocks of not only data storage, but all computers. Computers
work in binary digits, combining 0’s and 1’s in countless patterns. These binary digits are known
as bits and are the smallest possible unit for data storag

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