LACAS Gulberg Senior Campus

ICT (0417)
Name: ___________________ Grade OI Date: ____________

Chapter 3: Storage devices and media

Secondary storage includes all non-volatile devices that are not part of primary memory. There are three
different categories of secondary storage which are based on technology that uses the following media:
 magnetic
 optical
 solid state.
Difference between media and device:
Media is the hardware on which the data is actually stored (for example, a CD or a DVD); whereas the

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storage device is the hardware used to read from or write to the media (for example, a CD/DVD reader or
writer).

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3.1 Magnetic media and magnetic storage devices

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Magnetic media rely on the property that an iron oxide coating can be magnetised to represent a binary
1-value and demagnetised to represent a binary 0-value. The two most common devices that use these

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magnetic properties to store data are magnetic tape drives and hard disk drives (HDD).
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3.1.1 Magnetic tape drives
A magnetic tape is a very thin strip of plastic which is coated in a magnetic layer (iron oxide). They are
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read from or written to by a read/write head in a magnetic tape storage device. The data is stored as a
magnetised area (which represents a 1) or demagnetised area (which represents a 0). Data is read
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from the tape using serial access.

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Uses of magnetic tape

» Use in applications where batch processing is used (for example, clearing bank cheques, utility billing
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(gas, electricity, water), and producing pay slips).

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» Used as a backup media where vast amounts of data need to be stored.

» Used in long-term archiving of data.
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Advantages of magnetic tapes

» They are generally less expensive (per byte) than the equivalent hard disk drive.
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» It is a very robust technology (they do not deteriorate much over time and remain stable).
» They have a huge data storage capacity.
» The data transfer rate is actually fast

Disadvantages of magnetic tape

» Very slow data access times

» When updating, another tape is needed to store the
final updated version; this requires the use of a master
tape (the original tape) and a transaction tape (which
contains all the changes to be made) to produce a new
master tape.
» They are affected by magnetic fields; a strong magnet
can corrupt data stored on the tape.
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3.1.2 Hard disk drives (HDD)

A Hard disk drives (HDD) has many metallic disks. Data is stored
in a digital format on the magnetic surfaces of the hard disks (or
platters). A number of read/write heads can access all of the platter
surfaces in the disk drive. Data on an HDD can be read using direct
access.

How HDD works:

» Actuators are used to move the read/write heads.
» A read/write arm swings the read/write head back and forth across the platter;
» The platter is rotating at up to 10 000 rpm (revolutions per minute).
» Each read/write head contains a tiny magnet which allows the data on the platter to be read.

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» Platters are made from glass, ceramic or aluminium which are coated in iron oxide.
» There are two read/write heads per platter.

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» Data is stored in concentric, circular tracks; each track is broken up into sectors.

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» A map of the sectors is stored on the HDD and is
known as a file allocation table (FAT).

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In HDD the effects of latency then become very
significant. (Latency is defined as the time it takes
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for a specific block of data on a data track to
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rotate around to the read/write head). Users will

sometimes notice the effect of latency, especially if
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many different applications are open, when they see

messages such as: ‘Please wait’ or ‘not responding’.
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HDDs can be either fixed or portable.

Uses of fixed hard disk drives

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» To store the operating system, systems software

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and working data/files.

» Storing applications software.
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» Used in real-time systems (robots, control of a chemical plant) and in online systems (booking airline
tickets, automatic stock control).
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» Used in file servers for computer networks.

Advantages of fixed hard disk drives

» They have a very fast data transfer rate and fast access times to data.
» They have very large memory capacities.

Disadvantages of fixed hard disk drives

» They can be fairly easily damaged, if the correct shut-down procedure on a computer has not been
correctly carried out,
» They have many moving parts which can affect their overall reliability.
» Their read/write operation can be quite noisy when compared to solid-state drives.

Uses of portable hard disk drives

» They can be used as backup systems to prevent loss of data.
» They can be used to transfer data/files/software between computers. 2
Advantages of portable hard disk drives
» The data access time and data transfer rate are very fast.
» They have a large memory capacity.
» They can be used as a method of transferring information between computers.
Disadvantages of portable hard disk drives
» They can be easily damaged if the user accidentally drops it.
» Data transfer rate is not as fast as for fixed hard drives.

3.2 Optical media and optical storage devices

3.2.1 CD/DVD optical disks
CDs and DVDS are described as optical media and are read from or written to by
optical storage devices.
CDs and DVDs can be designated as: ‘R’ (write once only), ‘RW’ (can be written to
or read from many times) or ‘ROM’ (read-only).

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How CD/DVD works:

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» Both CDs and DVDs use a thin layer of metal alloy or a light-sensitive organic dye coating to store the
data.

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» Both systems use a single, spiral track, which runs from the centre of the disk to the edge.

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» The laser beam then follows the spiral track from the centre outwards.
» A CD/DVD is divided into sectors, allowing direct access of data.

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» The data is stored in pits and lands on the spiral track.
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» A red laser is used to read and write the data. The wavelength of the reflected laser light is slightly
different to the original laser light, causing destructive interference. This allows the pits and lands to
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be read and then be converted into binary data.
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Differences of DVD from CD:

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» Two layers of a standard DVD are joined together with a transparent spacer, and a very thin reflector
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is also sandwiched between the two layers.

» Reading and writing of the second layer is done by a red laser focusing at a fraction of a millimetre
difference compared to the first layer.
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» Standard, single-layer DVDs still have a larger storage capacity than CDs because the ‘pit’ size and
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track width are both smaller.

» DVDs use lasers with a wavelength of 650 nanometres; CDs use lasers with a wavelength of 780
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nanometres.
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Uses of CD-R and DVD-R

» Home recordings of music and films.
» Used to store data to be kept for later use or to be transferred to another computer.
Advantages of CD-R and DVD-R
» Cheaper medium than RW disks.
» Once burned (and finalised) they behave like a ROM.
Disadvantages of CD-R and DVD-R
» Can only be recorded once; if an error occurs then the disk has to be thrown away.
» Not all CD/DVD players can read CD-R/DVD-R.

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Uses of CD-RW/DVD-RW
» Used to record television programmes which can be recorded over, time and time again.
» Used in CCTV systems.
» Can be used as a backup device for files and data.
Advantages of CD-RW/DVD-RW
» Can be written over many times.
» Can use different file formats each time it is used.
» Not as wasteful as R format because the files/data can be added at a later stage.
Disadvantages of CD-RW/DVD-RW
» Can be relatively expensive media.
» Possible to accidentally overwrite data.

Uses of CD -ROM /DVD -ROM

» These optical disks are read-only memory (ROM) which means they cannot be written over and can
only be read.

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» CD-ROM is used to store music files and to store software, computer games and reference software
(such as an encyclopaedia).

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» DVD-ROM has much larger storage and is used to store films; but now it is increasingly used to store
computer data.

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» CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs are used in applications where there is a real need to prevent the deletion

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or overwriting of important data.

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Advantages of CD -ROM /DVD -ROM
» They are less expensive than hard disk drive systems.
Disadvantages of CD -ROM /DVD -ROM
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» The data transfer rate/data access time is slower than for hard disks.
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3.2.2 Blu-ray discs

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Differences of Blu-ray disc from DVD:

» A blue laser is used, the wavelength of blue light is only 405 nanometres (compared to 650 nm for red
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light).
» Using blue laser light means that the pits and lands can be much smaller.
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» Blu-ray can store up to five times more data than normal DVD.
» Single-layer Blu-ray discs use a 1.2 mm thick polycarbonate disk, a dual-layer Blu-ray and normal
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DVDs both use a sandwich of two 0.6 mm thick disks (i.e. 1.2 mm thick).
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» Blu-ray disks automatically come with a secure encryption system.

» The data transfer rate for a DVD is 10 Mbps and for a Blu-ray disc it is 36 Mbps.
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Uses of Blu-ray discs
» Home video consoles.
» Storing and playing back movies.
» Computers can use this technology for data storage or backing up hard drives.
» Camcorders can use this media (in cartridge form) to store movies.

Advantages of Blu-ray discs

» Very large storage capacity, therefore ideal for storing high definition movies.
» Very fast data transfer rate.
» The data access speed is also greater than with other optical media.
» Blu-ray discs automatically come with a secure encryption system, prevent piracy and copyright
infringement.

Disadvantages of Blu-ray discs

» Relatively expensive discs.

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» Encryption problems (which are used to stop piracy) when used to store video.
» Introduction of HD (high definition) DVD players has reduced the advantages of using Blu-ray disc

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technology.

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3.3 Solid-state media and solid-state storage devices

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Solid state does not rely on magnetic properties and they have no moving parts. The most common
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type of solid-state technology stores data by controlling the movement of electrons within NAND chips.
The data is stored as 0s and 1s in millions of tiny transistors (at each junction one transistor is called a
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floating gate and the other is called a control gate) within the chip.
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Devices that use solid-state technology in this way are often referred to as flash memories or flash
drives.
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How SSD works:

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 Flash memories make use of a grid; at each intersection on the grid there is a floating gate and
a control gate.
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 A dielectric coating separates the two transistors, which allows the floating gate transistor to
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retain its charge.

 The floating gate transistor has a value of 1 when it is charged and a value of 0 when it is not.
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 To program one of these ‘intersection cells’ a voltage is applied to the control gate and electrons
from the electron source are attracted to it.
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 Due to the dielectric coating, the electrons become trapped in the floating gate.

Note: After about 12 months, this charge can leak away which is why a solid-state device should be
used at least once a year to be certain it will retain its memory contents.

Uses of SSDs
Solid-state drives have revolutionised computers over the last few years, and they are rapidly taking
over from HDDs as the main type of backing storage.
They have enabled laptop computers to become thinner and much lighter.
They have given rise to the development of smartphones and tablets.

Advantages of SSDs 5
The main benefits of SSDs are:
» they are more reliable (no moving parts to go wrong)
» they are considerably lighter (which makes them suitable for laptops)
» they do not have to ‘get up to speed’ before they work properly
» they have a lower power consumption
» they run much cooler than HDDs
» because of no moving parts, they are very thin
» SSD data access time is only 0.1 milliseconds compared to 10 milliseconds for HDD
» data transfer speed for SSDs is also much faster than for HDDs.

Disadvantages of SSDs
The main drawback of SSDs is the longevity of the technology.
Most solid-state storage devices are conservatively rated at only 20 GB write operations per day over a
three-year period – this is known as SSD endurance. For this reason, SSD technology is still not used
in all servers.

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3.3.3 Pen drives

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Pen drives (memory sticks) are small portable devices that make use of solid-state technology.

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They connect to the computer through a USB port. The terms pen drive (memory stick) and flash drive

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are often incorrectly used to mean the same thing. Essentially, any device that uses solid-state
technology can be referred to as a flash drive; a pen drive (memory stick) is a flash drive with a USB

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connector.

Uses of memory sticks/pen drives

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» Transporting files between computers or using as a backing store.
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» Used as a security device to prevent software piracy (known as a dongle).

Advantages of memory sticks/pen drives
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» Very compact and portable media.

» Very robust.
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» Does not need additional software to work on most computers.

» They are not affected by magnetic fields.
Disadvantages of memory sticks/pen drives
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» Cannot write protect the data/files by making it ‘read-only’.

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» Easy to lose (due to the small physical size).

» The user needs to be very careful when removing a memory stick from a computer – incorrect
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removal will corrupt the data on the memory stick and make it useless.
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3.3.4 Memory cards

A memory card makes use of solid-state technology. They can be inserted into a device which can read
the card or allow data to be written to the card. The cards come in various memory sizes. There are
many available memory card formats, for example:
» SD cards (secure digital card)
» XD cards (extreme digital card)
» CFast card (compactfast card).
The XD card is a type of removable memory card designed for use in digital cameras.
The SD card is a type of very small card with a very high-capacity memory. SD cards are primarily used
in portable devices such as digital video recorders, digital cameras, audio players, smartphones and
tablets.
A CFast card is a memory card format which was developed to allow solidstate technology to be used
in a very small portable device. It has no moving mechanical parts and does not need a battery to retain
data.
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Uses of memory cards
» Storing photos on digital cameras.
» Used as mobile phone memory cards.
» Used in MP3 players to store music files.
» Used as a backing store in hand-held computer devices.
Advantages of memory cards
» Very compact – can be easily removed and used in another device or for transferring photos directly
to a computer or printer.
» Because they are solid-state memories (and have no moving parts) they are very durable.
» They can hold large amounts of data.
» Digital devices, such as compact cameras and smartphones, are able to read and write to memory
cards, allowing the user to transport large collections of photographs, songs.

Disadvantages of memory cards

» Expensive per gigabyte of memory when compared to hard disk drives.

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» Have a lower storage capacity than hard disks.
» Have a finite life regarding number of times they can be read from or written to.

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» Memory cards, specifically the micro SD card, are the smallest storage devices available; this means
they are more likely to be lost, stolen or damaged.

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3.4 The future of storage devices

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In recent times, both the CD and DVD are showing signs of becoming obsolete due to following
reasons:
 Many computer systems now come only with USB connectors and no internal DVD or CD drive.
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The main method of transferring files between devices has become the flash memory.
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 Many people now store all their music on hard disk, in MP3 format on portable devices.
 the cloud storage is used to store all their files so they can access their music from anywhere in
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the world.
 by streaming their music from the internet; provided the user has an internet connection, they
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can access music through a laptop computer, smartphone, tablet or any other receiving device.
 Many television sets are now set up as smart televisions – this means it is now possible to
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simply stream movies or television programmes on demand without the need for any DVD or
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Blu-ray players.
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