Scribd
Upload
13 views

CS406: Web Based Database Applications

The document discusses three iconic storage devices: drum memory, IBM RAMAC 350, and LTO-7 tape, highlighting their technology, capacity, and physical size differences. It also compares cloning and snapshotting for creating test environments from production data, recommending snapshotting for its efficiency and speed. Cloning is noted for providing exact replicas but is resource-intensive and less practical for frequent data generation.

Uploaded by

wasif kayani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
13 views

CS406: Web Based Database Applications

The document discusses three iconic storage devices: drum memory, IBM RAMAC 350, and LTO-7 tape, highlighting their technology, capacity, and physical size differences. It also compares cloning and snapshotting for creating test environments from production data, recommending snapshotting for its efficiency and speed. Cloning is noted for providing exact replicas but is resource-intensive and less practical for frequent data generation.

Uploaded by

wasif kayani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

CS406: Web Based Database Applications

Assignment#2

Name: Arooj Hamayun


Student ID: bc230216643

Question#1
Scenario:
A university is organizing a technology exhibition to highlight the evolution of computer storage
systems. You have decided to contribute to the showcase by displaying three iconic storage
devices: drum memory, the IBM RAMAC 350, and the LTO-7 tape.
Question:
What key differences in technology, capacity, and physical size would you highlight between
these three storage devices?

Answer:

Drum Memory

 Technology: Drum memory is one of the earliest forms of computer storage. It utilizes a
rotating drum coated with ferromagnetic material. Multiple read/write heads are aligned
along the drum's surface to access data. The drum continuously spins, and data is read or
written as the drum passes under the heads.
 Capacity: Drum memory typically offered storage capacities in the range of a few
kilobytes. For example, the IBM 650, an early computer, used drum memory with a
capacity of around 8.5 kilobytes.
 Physical Size: Drum memories were large and cumbersome devices, often as big as a
washing machine or larger. They required significant physical space and were not very
portable.

IBM RAMAC 350

 Technology: The IBM RAMAC 350 was the first commercial hard disk drive, introduced
in 1956. It featured multiple spinning disks coated with magnetic material, with
read/write heads positioned between the disks to access data. This design allowed for
random access to stored data, which was a significant advancement over sequential
access methods like drum memory.
 Capacity: The IBM RAMAC 350 had a storage capacity of approximately 5 megabytes,
a groundbreaking amount at the time of its introduction.
 Physical Size: The RAMAC 350 was a large and bulky device, roughly the size of two
refrigerators. It required substantial space and infrastructure to operate, making it suitable
primarily for large organizations and businesses.

LTO-7 Tape

 Technology: LTO-7 (Linear Tape-Open) is a modern magnetic tape storage technology


used primarily for backup and archival purposes. LTO tapes are enclosed in a compact
cartridge, and data is written to and read from the tape using a tape drive. LTO
technology provides high-density storage and is known for its durability and longevity.
 Capacity: LTO-7 tapes offer a native storage capacity of up to 6 terabytes and a
compressed capacity of up to 15 terabytes, making them suitable for storing large
volumes of data.
 Physical Size: LTO-7 tape cartridges are compact and portable, roughly the size of a
VHS cassette. This small form factor allows for easy storage and transportation of large
amounts of data.

Scenario:
An organization plans to create test environments from its production data for
software testing. They need to frequently generate new copies of data.

Question:
Would you recommend cloning or snapshotting, and why?

Answer:

For creating test environments from production data, let's look at the pros and cons of cloning
and snapshotting:

Cloning

 Definition: Cloning involves creating an exact copy of the entire production


environment, including all data and configurations. This copy is fully independent and
can be used for testing purposes without affecting the original environment.
 Advantages:
o Provides an isolated environment identical to production, ensuring tests reflect the
true production scenario.
o Ideal for situations where an exact replica is necessary for thorough testing.
 Disadvantages:
o Resource-intensive, requiring significant storage space and time to create and
maintain multiple clones.
o May not be practical for frequent data generation due to the high overhead.
Snapshotting

 Definition: Snapshotting involves creating a point-in-time image of the data, capturing


only the changes made since the last snapshot. Snapshots are typically used to quickly
revert to a previous state or to create temporary copies of data.
 Advantages:
o Efficient use of storage, as snapshots only capture changes rather than duplicating
the entire dataset.
o Quick to create and revert, making it suitable for frequent data generation and
testing.
o Less resource-intensive compared to cloning, reducing storage and time overhead.
 Disadvantages:
o May not provide a fully isolated environment, as snapshots are often dependent
on the base data. This dependency could lead to complications in testing if the
base data changes.

Recommendation

Given the need to frequently generate new copies of data for testing, snapshotting is generally
the more practical choice. Its efficiency in terms of storage use and speed of creation makes it
ideal for continuous testing scenarios. However, if the organization requires exact replicas of the
production environment for testing, cloning may be considered despite its higher resource
requirements.

THE END

You might also like