Chapter 3

Storage

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All
Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Learning Objectives

• Name several general characteristics of storage systems.

• Describe the three most common types of hard drives and what they are used
for today.
• Discuss the various types of optical discs available today and how they differ
from each other.
• Identify some flash memory storage devices and media and explain how they
are used today.
• List at least three other types of storage systems.
• Summarize the storage alternatives for a typical personal computer.

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Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Overview

• This chapter covers:

• The characteristics common among all storage systems
• The primary storage for most personal computers—the hard drive
• How optical discs work and the various types that are available today
• Flash memory storage systems
• Network and cloud storage, smart cards, and the storage systems used with large
computer systems
• Storage alternatives for a typical personal computer

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Storage System Characteristics

• A storage system consists of a storage medium and a storage device

• The storage medium is the hardware where data is stored
• DVD disc, flash memory card, etc.
• The storage device is the hardware into which the storage medium is inserted
• DVD drive, flash memory card reader, etc.
• Can be internal, external, or remote
• Storage devices are typically identified by letter
• Some storage media is removable; some is not

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Examples of Storage Device Identifiers

FIGURE 3-1: Storage

device identifiers. To keep
track of storage devices in
an unambiguous way, the
computer system assigns
letters of the alphabet or
names to each of them.

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
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Volatility and Random versus Sequential Access

• Volatility
• Storage media are nonvolatile and, therefore, is used for data to be saved for later
use
• Random versus sequential access
• Random access (direct access) allows data to be retrieved from any location on
the storage medium
• Virtually all storage devices use random access
• Sequential access means that retrieval of data can occur only in the order in which
it was physically stored on the storage medium; for example, a magnetic tape drive

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Files, Filenames, and Folders

• A file is anything FIGURE 3-2: Organizing data. Folders are used to

stored on a storage organize related items on a storage medium.
medium, such as a
program, document,
digital image, or song
• A filename is a name
given to a file by the
user
• A folder is a named
place on a storage
medium into which files
can be stored

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Logical versus Physical Representation and Types
of Storage Technologies Used
• Logical file representation
• Individuals view a document stored as one complete unit in a particular folder on a
particular drive
• Physical file representation
• Computers access a particular document stored on a storage medium using its
physical location or locations
• Types of storage technology
• Magnetic (conventional hard drives)
• Optical (optical discs)
• Electrons (flash memory media)

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Hard Drives

• A hard drive stores FIGURE 3-3: Encrypted hard drives. The data
most programs and data stored on these external hard drives is accessed
for a personal computer via a fingerprint scan (left) or PIN (right).
• Can be internal or
external
• Available with built-in
encryption that limits
access to only
authorized users

Source: Apricorn

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Magnetic Hard Drives (1 of 2)

• A magnetic hard drive or FIGURE 3-4: Storing data on magnetic disks.

hard disk drive (HDD)
contains particles on the metal
disks inside the drive that are
magnetized to represent the
data’s 0s and 1s

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Magnetic Hard Drives (2 of 2)

• One or more metal hard FIGURE 3-5: Magnetic hard drives.

disks are permanently
sealed inside the drive
along with an access
mechanism and
read/write heads

Source: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies; Seagate Technology LLC

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Hard Disk Organization

• Tracks are concentric paths on the disk where data is recorded

• Sectors are small pieces of a track
• Clusters consist of one or more sectors
• Smallest addressable area of a disk
• Cylinders are a collection of tracks located in the same location on a set of
hard disk surfaces

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Examples of Tracks, Sectors, Clusters, and Cylinders

FIGURE 3-6: Magnetic

hard disks are
organized into tracks,
sectors, clusters, and
cylinders.

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Magnetic Hard Drive Technologies

• Traditional: Longitudinal magnetic recording aligns magnetic particles on a

hard disk horizontally, parallel to the hard disk’s surface
• Newer: Perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) places bits upright and
closer together to increase capacity and reliability
• Newest: Shingled magnetic recording (SMR) squeezes more data onto disks
by overlapping the data tracks on them like the shingles on a roof
• Emerging: Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) uses lasers to
temporarily heat the surface of the hard disks when storing data in order to
store more data

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How It Works

More Storage for Your Tablet

• Tablets often have between 16 GB
and 128 GB of storage
• To extend storage, you can transfer
content to and from desktops or
notebooks
• Easier to use a wireless hard drive
and Wi-Fi
• Download the appropriate app
Source: Seagate Technology LLC

The 2 TB Seagate Wireless Plus

magnetic hard drive.

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
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Inside the Industry

Data Recovery Experts

• Recover data from damaged storage devices
• Used when devices are physically damaged or just stop working
• It is important to back up data to prevent data loss

Source: DriveSavers Data Recovery

Data recovery. The data on this destroyed computer (left) was recovered
by data recovery experts in a clean room (right).
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Solid-State Drives (SSDs)

• A solid-state drive (SSD) FIGURE 3-7: Solid-state drives (SSDs).

uses flash memory Contain only flash memory.
technology to store data
• Uses less power and has
no moving parts
• Much faster than magnetic
hard drives, but more
expensive
• The norm for netbooks,
mobile devices, and other
portable devices

Source: Transcend Information USA

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Solid-State Hybrid Drives (SSHDs)

• A solid-state hybrid drive (SSHD) FIGURE 3-8: Solid-state hybrid drives (SSHDs).
or hybrid drive uses a combination Contain both magnetic hard disks and flash
memory.
of magnetic disks and flash
memory chips
• The data that is most directly
associated with performance is
stored in the flash memory
• Nearly as fast as solid-state drives
(SSDs)
• Slightly more expensive than
magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs)

Source: Seagate Technology LLC

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
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Internal and External Hard Drives

• Internal hard drives are permanent storage devices located inside the system
unit
• Removed only if a problem develops
• External hard drives transport large amounts of data from one computer to
another, for backup, and for additional storage
• Full-sized external hard drives are often used for backup
• Portable external hard drives: smaller and easier to transport
• Most connect with a USB connection, although some may connect through wired
or wireless networking connections

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Examples of External Hard Drives

FIGURE 3-9: External hard drives.

Source: Seagate Technology L LC

FULL-SIZED EXTERNAL HARD PORTABLE HARD DRIVES
00

DRIVES This drive is about the This drive is about the size of WIRELESS HARD DRIVES
size of a 5 by 7-inch picture frame, a 3 by 5-inch index card, but This drive connects via Wi-Fi
but thicker, and holds 6 TB. thicker, and holds 2 TB. and holds 500 GB.

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Hard Drive Speed and Disk Caching

• Disk access time is the total time that it takes for a hard drive to read or write
data
• Consists of seek time, rotational delay, and data movement time
• SSDs don’t require seek time or rotational delays
• Disk cache consists of memory used in conjunction with a magnetic hard
drive to improve system performance
• Typically consists of RAM-based disk cache located inside the hard drive case
• Can speed up performance and save battery life

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Hard Drive Partitioning

• Partitioning divides the physical capacity of FIGURE 3-10: Hard drive partitions.
a single drive logically into separate areas,
called partitions
• Each partition functions as an independent
hard drive
• Referred to as logical drives
• Increases efficiency (smaller drives use
smaller clusters)
• Partitions are used to create:
• A recovery partition
• A new logical drive for data
• A dual boot system

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Hard Drive File Systems and Interface Standards

• File system determines the partition size, cluster size, maximum drive size,
and maximum file size
• FAT, FAT32, and NTFS
• Interface standards determine how a drive connects to the computer
• Common standards
• Serial ATA (SATA): most common internal hard drive interface standard
• Serial attached SCSI (SAS)
• Fibre Channel
• Internet SCSI (iSCSI)

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Optical Discs

• Optical discs are thin circular plastic discs

• Are read from and written to using laser beams
• Are commonly used for software delivery
• Divided into sectors like magnetic discs but use a single spiral track (groove)
• Have a relatively large capacity and are durable
• Used for backup purposes and for storing and transporting music, photos,
video, etc.

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Representing Data on an Optical Disc

• Pits and lands are used to represent 1s and 0s

• The transition between a pit and a land represents a 1; no transition
represents a 0
• Read-only optical disc
• Surface of disc is molded or stamped to represent data
• Recordable or rewritable disc
• The reflectivity of the disc is changed using a laser beam to represent the data
• Different types of optical discs use different types of laser beams

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How Recorded Optical Discs Work

FIGURE 3-11: How

recorded optical discs
work.

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Optical Drives

• Optical discs are read by optical drives FIGURE 3-12: External optical
drives. Can be connected as
• The optical drive must support the type of needed, typically via a USB port,
optical disc being used such as to the netbook shown here.
• Almost always backward-compatible
• Recording data onto a optical disc is called
burning; requires burning software
• Optical drives can be internal or external
• External drives typically connect via USB port
• External drives can be used with netbooks and
other devices without an optical drive

Source: Apricorn
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 Optical Disc Shapes, Sizes, and Capacities

• Standard size is 120-mm (about 4.7 inches)

• Mini discs are smaller (about 3 inches)
• Theoretically can be made into various shapes, but patent battle has resulted in custom
shapes not being available
• Clear background is sometimes used to make a disc look custom shaped

FIGURE 3-13: Optical discs are available in a variety of sizes, appearances, and capacities.

MINI 80 MM (3.1 INCH)

SIZED DISC (with a
MINI 80 MM clear background to
Source: Adobe (3.1 INCH) be standard size)
SIZED DISC
STANDARD 120 MM
(4.7 INCH) SIZED DISC Source: Megaladon
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Advantage of Optical Discs

• Major advantage: Large capacity

• CD discs are normally single layer and hold 700 MB
• DVD discs hold 4.7 GB (single-layer) or 8.5 GB (dual-layer)
• BD discs hold 25 GB (single-layer) or 50 GB (dual-layer)
• BDXL standard uses even more layers to boost capacity up to 128 GB
• Newest BD discs are Ultra HD Blu-ray discs that hold up to 100 GB and are
designed to deliver Ultra HD (4K) movies
• Discs can also be double-sided
• Read on one side at a time; must be turned over to access the second side

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Summary of Optical Discs

FIGURE 3-14: Summary of optical discs.

TYPE OF DISC CAPACITY USED FOR
CD 700 MB Audio music delivery; custom CDs containing music,
photos, etc.
DVD 4.7 GB Movie and software delivery; custom DVDs
DVD-DL 8.5 GB containing videos, music, photos, etc.
BD 25 GB Primarily movie delivery
BD-DL 50 GB
BDXL (3 layers) 100 GB Primarily video archiving
BDXL (4 layers) 128 GB
Ultra HD (4K) (2 layers) 66 GB Primarily 4K movie delivery
Ultra HD (4K) (3 layers) 100 GB

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Read-Only Optical Discs: CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and
BD-ROM Discs
• CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and BD-ROM discs can be written to, but not erased
and reused
• Pits are permanent
• CD-ROM and DVD-ROM discs come prerecorded with software, music, movies,
etc.
• BD-ROM discs come prerecorded with movies
• Ultra HD Blu-ray discs can be used for 4K movies
• Additional proprietary read-only discs
• Gaming systems like Wii, Xbox, PlayStation, etc.

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Recordable Optical Discs: CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R,
and BD-R Discs
• CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R, and BD-R discs can be written to, but cannot be
erased and reused
• Pits are created in the disc when the disc is recorded
• Most discs have a recording layer containing organic light-sensitive dye between
disc’s plastic and reflective layers
• BD-R discs use inorganic material instead
• DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL are dual-layer discs
• BD-R DL discs are dual-layer discs; BD-R XL use 3 or 4 layers
• Used for backing up files, sending large files to others, and storing multimedia files

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Rewritable Optical Discs: CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW,
and BD-RE Discs
• CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and BD-RE discs can be written to, erased,
and overwritten just like magnetic hard disks
• Uses phase change technology
• Heating and cooling process is used to change the reflectivity of the disc
• The capacities are the same as their read-only and recordable counterparts
• Appropriate for transferring large files from one computer to another or otherwise
temporarily storing data (disc can be reused)

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Trend

Ultra HD (4K)
• Is the next big step in high-definition (HD) TVs and
content
• Four times the resolution of ordinary HD
• Requires four times as much data as regular HD
video
• Many Internet connections are not fast enough to
support the large amounts of data required for 4K
quality
• Available for those individuals who have the speed
and bandwidth to support it; also available on
Ultra HD discs An example of a 4K movie.

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Flash Memory Storage Systems

• Flash memory is a chip-based storage medium that represents data using

electrons
• Used in a variety of storage systems
• Embedded flash memory refers to flash memory chips embedded into
products
• Smartphones, tablets, smart watches, and even sunglasses and wristwatches
• Usually the primary storage for mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones

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Examples of Embedded Flash Memory

Source: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Source: SanDisk Corporation

This tablet contains 64 GB of An embedded flash memory chip.

embedded flash memory.

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Flash Memory Cards and Readers

• A flash memory card is a small card containing one or more flash memory
chips, a controller chip, and metal contacts to connect the card to the device
or reader being used
• Available in a variety of formats; these formats are not interchangeable
• Secure Digital (SD) is one of the most widely used types of flash memory media
• Most common type of storage media for digital cameras, smartphones, and other
portable devices
• Many devices today have a built-in flash memory card reader; an external
reader via USB port is also used
• Adapters allow the use of smaller flash memory cards in a larger slot of the
same type (microSD to SD, etc.)

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Examples of Flash Memory Cards, Readers, and
Adapters
FIGURE 3-16: Flash memory cards, readers, and adapters.

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Flash Memory Cards

• General-purpose flash memory card FIGURE 3-17: Google Project Vault

• Appropriate for most applications encrypted microSD card.
• Specialized flash memory cards
• Professional flash memory cards
• Gaming flash memory cards
• Encrypted flash memory cards
• Project Vault is a computer on a flash
memory card

Source: Google ATAP

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USB Flash Drives

• USB flash drives (USB drives or flash drives) consist of flash memory media
integrated into a self-contained unit that plugs into and is powered by a U SB
port
• Designed to be very small and very portable
• Available in a host of formats
• Low-profile drives, custom shapes, micro drives, etc.
• Can be built into a consumer product
• Additional related hardware becoming available
• USB duplicator systems

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Examples of USB Flash Drives

FIGURE 3-18: USB

flash drives.

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Technology and You

Tiny PCs
• The size of a USB flash drive
• Typically connect to a TV via an HDMI
port
• May also have built-in storage and a
microSD
• Capabilities vary; smart TVs can display
and stream Internet content
• The newest tiny PCs are fully functioning
“computers-on-a-stick” Source: Intel Corporation

Intel Compute Stick

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Other Types of Storage Systems

• Remote storage refers to using a storage device that is not connected directly
to the user’s computer
• Network storage: Using a storage device via a local network
• Works in much the same way as using local storage
• Network attached storage (NAS) devices are high performance storage systems
connected individually to a network
• A storage area network (SAN) consist of separate network of hard drives or other
storage devices that are attached to the main network

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Examples of Network Storage

FIGURE 3-19: Network storage.

Source: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

LOCAL NETWORKS Network devices NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE (NAS)
appear and are accessed in a manner DEVICES This NAS device holds up to 12 TB
similar to local resources. of data on two magnetic hard drives.
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Cloud Storage

• Cloud storage (online storage) is accessed via the Internet

• Cloud applications (Flickr, Facebook, Google Docs, etc.)
• Online storage sites (Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.)
• Growing in importance because more and more applications are Web-based
• Increasingly used for backup purposes
• Files can be synched between PC and cloud storage
• Many online storage sites offer some free storage
• Business cloud storage is available; businesses can also create private clouds

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Example of Cloud Storage

FIGURE 3-20: Cloud

storage.

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Smart Cards

• A smart card is a credit card-sized piece of plastic that contains some

computer circuitry (processor, memory, and storage)
• Stores a small amount of data (about 64 KB or less)
• Commonly used to store prepaid amounts of digital cash or personal information
• Smart card readers are built into or attached to a computer, door lock, vending
machine, or other device
• Some smart cards store biometric data
• Use of mobile smart cards is an emerging trend

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Examples of Uses for Smart Cards

FIGURE 3-21: Uses for

smart cards.

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Storage Systems for Large Computer Systems

• Business storage needs are growing exponentially

• Digital data produced is expected to double every two years through 2020
• A storage server contains multiple high-speed hard drives
• Larger than typical NASs
• Usually contain drawers of hard drives
• Typically use fast Fibre Channel or iSCSI connections
• Scalable so that more hard drives can be added as needed
• Can use magnetic and/or SSD drives

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Example of a Large Storage Systems

FIGURE 3-22: Large

storage systems. Large
storage systems are
usually scalable so
additional hard drives
can be added as needed.

Source: Hewlett-Packard
Development Company, L.P.

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
RAID

• RAID (redundant arrays of independent discs) is a method of storing data

on two or more hard drives that work together to record redundant copies
• Used to protect critical data on large storage systems
• Helps to increase fault tolerance
• Different levels of RAID:
• RAID 0 = disk striping (spread files over two or more hard drives)
• RAID 1 = disk mirroring (duplicate copy)
• Other levels use a combination or striping and mirror

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Two Primary RAID Techniques

FIGURE 3-23: RAID. Two primary RAID techniques are striping and mirroring.

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Newer RAID Systems

• New storage systems are easier to set up FIGURE 3-24: A Drobo storage
and maintain so dedicated RAID system.
personnel are not needed
• For example, the Drobo system:
• Connects to a computer or a network via a
USB cable
• Contains drive bays into which hard drives
can be inserted
• Has capacity and status indicators – drives
can be inserted and removed as needed
Source: Drobo, Inc.

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Archival Storage Systems

• Data archiving is the process of identifying and moving data that is no longer
actively being used from regular storage systems to a separate long-term
archival storage system
• Options for data archival systems:
• Large hard drives, such as a helium hard drive (10 T B)
• Magnetic tape
• Typically cartridge tapes; can be tape libraries
• Higher capacity, archival Blu-ray Discs that are becoming available; so are optical
jukeboxes
• Cloud storage

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Examples of Data Archiving Options

FIGURE 3-25: Helium hard drive. FIGURE 3-26: Magnetic tape. This
cartridge holds 2.5 TB of uncompressed
data.

Source: HGST, Inc.

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Evaluating Your Storage Alternatives

• Product characteristics to consider:

• Speed, compatibility, storage capacity, convenience, and portability
• Each storage alternative normally involves trade-offs
• Research which devices and media are most appropriate to your personal
devices
• All computers need at least one convenient USB port
• Mobile device users
• Fewer options for storage alternatives
• Require appropriate wireless connectivity

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Summary

• Storage Systems Characteristics

• Hard drives
• Optical Discs And Drives
• Flash Memory Storage Systems
• Other Types of Storage Systems
• Evaluating Your Storage Alternatives

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Quick Quiz 1

1. Of the following three options, the storage media that would likely hold the
most data is a(n) __________.
a. HDD
b. USB flash drive
c. SSD
2. True or False: SSDs are subject to mechanical failures just like magnetic
hard drives.
3. The circular rings on a magnetic disk on which data is stored are called
__________.
Answers:
1) a; 2) False; 3) tracks
Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Quick Quiz 2

1. The capacity of the standard DVD disc is _____.

a. 50 GB
b. 650 MB
c. 4.7 GB
2. True or False: A DVD-RW disc can be written to and rewritten to.
3. The tiny depressions, dark areas, or otherwise altered spots on an optical
disc that are used to represent data are called __________.

Answers:
1) c; 2) True; 3) pits
Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Quick Quiz 3

1. Flash memory cards are available today in capacities up to _____.

a. 64 GB
b. 512 MB
c. 1 TB

2. True or False: Flash memory is the primary storage for mobile devices such
as tablets and smartphones.
3. The most common type of flash memory card today is the __________ card.

Answers:
1) c; 2) True; 3) SD

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Quick Quiz 4

1. An online photo sharing site is an example of __________.

a. RAID
b. cloud storage
c. holographic storage

2. True or False: Smart cards today typically hold at least 1.44 MB of data.
3. A type of sequential storage that is sometimes used today for business data
archiving and in some backup systems because of its low cost per terabyte is
__________.
Answers:
1) b; 2) False; 3) magnetic tape

Deborah Morley/Charles S. Parker, Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive, 16 th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.