Computer Storage Devices

15 min readOct 17, 2021

Definition of computer storage devices.

A computer is a programmable and electronic device. Storing data in a computer is the fundamental function and fundamental component of a computer. That is also known as computer memory. Computer devices are used to store digital data sent to a computer called storage devices. These storage devices are also important in computer networking. They are also the main hardware components of a computer. This device is used for storing, porting, extracting data, and object data can be stored temporarily or permanently. This device can be located both externally and internally on the computer. That is also known as a storage medium. Previous storage devices were used punch cards and magnetic tapes. It presents binary data through physical media. Various new technological devices are currently used to store data.

The usage of storage devices.

These devices primarily store digital data and can be viewed in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the needs of the device and its functionality. Primary storage devices typically use data retention as well as the ability to quickly access known data. Here we can do our work efficiently. Secondary storage devices generally have a large storage capacity, and these devices can permanently store data. These secondary storage devices are portable, easy to exchange messages on the net, and used for data backup, future restores, and disaster recovery. These devices have a long lifespan. And data security is high. These are often used for robotics as applications in tertiary stores. These devices are also often used to store unwanted data. The advantage here is that it can be accessed without human intervention. Used for large databases, they can port as offline storage devices. Also, they can use on a variety of computer systems, as well as data storage. cloud storage devices’ can remotely manage data

Type of storage

Depending on how the computer stores data and information in memory. Several types of storage can be identified. they are,

1. Primary storage

2. Secondary storage

3. Tertiary storage

4. Off-line storage

**Type of storage**
Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_data_storage

Primary storage

This is considered the main memory of the computer. It can also access the processing unit directly. Currently, use applications and data are temporarily stored. Provides continuous readability of existing data on the CPU as well as executes it as needed. This can divide into 2 parts as volatile memory and non-volatile memory. Based on this allocation, this primary memory is divided into 3 main types.

1. RAM (Random Access Memory)

2. ROM (Read Only Memory)

3. Cache memory

1. RAM (Random Access Memory)

This memory is called Random Access Memory. This is because temporary data can be accessed at any time data is available faster.it is also known as volatile memory. When your computer is shut down or a power outage ram will erase all the data on it. Your computer is on again it will load data again. RAM can be input, store, and retrieving data. RAM transfers data to secondary memory.it is more capable of reading and writing than RAM. There are two types of RAM.

1. DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)

2. SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)

Source: https://www.computerscience.gcse.guru/theory/storage-devices

Different between SRAM and DRAM

2. ROM (Read Only Memory)

This memory is called Read-Only Memory. It is used to store important information, such as instructions and commands that are essential to the data processing process. The important thing here is that no one can change or delete the data here. This is non-volatile memory. When your power outage or computer shutdown ROM will not erase your data. This is called the computer’s permanent memory. ROM controls the input and output of the computer’s primary memory application (BIOS) and controls the start-up and shutdown (booted up) process of the computer. This is a small chip located on the motherboard. It can only read data and not written to. There are three main types of ROMs.

1. PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory)

2. EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory)

3. EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory)

Different between PROM and EPROM and EEPROM

3. Cache memory

It is a memory within the processor. It has a small storage area. Very faster memory. This is the memory that acts as a buffer between RAM and CPU. Due to frequent storage, data can be sent to the CPU when needed. This is used to reduce data retrieval time from the main memory. Here the activity is measured in Hit ratio. There are three types of memory.

i. L1.- Called the internal cache, Located in CPU, Is fast, Provides access to frequently accessed data, Is small

ii. L2 — Called the external cache, Located outside the CPU, Located in the motherboard, Higher than the primary cache, Slowly

iii. L3 — The computer is mounted across the bus, Flexibility, Slowly than L1 and L2, Managing interstate communication, Can be found on the graphic card.

Secondary storage

Secondary memory is also known as secondary storage, backup storage, or external storage. It is a storage that permanently stores data and a piece of information. This memory is not considered essential memory storage for the computer, and the data here is non-volatile memory storage as it is not erased when the power is turned off. It stores future restore data, backup data, Frequently inaccessible data. This memory is not directly connected to the CPU and is slower than the primary memory storage. It is used in many computers due to its increased capacity and low cost.

Tertiary storage

It is designed to include a large amount of removable media such as tapes or optical discs. It Is high-capacity memory storage. It is not possible to do several activities at once. Can be seen in robots. The data contained here is usually copied to the cache memory. Human participation is not required. Also known as near-line storage due to its near to the internet. Tertiary storage was available for l/o.

Off-line storage

Non-volatile storage. Once the device is removed, its data is no longer available. Here the information is stored in a medium. This storage is not CPU controlled. The data contained herein cannot be accessed without human intervention. These repositories are used to protect backups and files in case of hardware crashes or computer viruses due to power outages.

Type of storage devices

1. Magnetic storage devices

Magnetic storage can be identified as a type of device used to store digital data. The data here is stored using a magnetic medium. Magnetic media used in a computer system include magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and hard disks.

Hard disk

It can be identified as the largest storage device in a computer. It has an electromagnetically charged surface. This is non -volatile memory and is an optional storage device for computer users. It can store 160GB — 2TB of data. It is also known as reading/ write memory as the user can read and write data here. It can set rotation speed varying from 4500 to 7200rpm. The hard disk consists of several parts.

i. Platter

This is made of metallic aluminum

Here data can be stored on both sides

The hard drive may have multiple disks.

Data is stored by a magnetic field.

ii. Spindle

Olds the platter and helps rotate it.

iii. Head

Reading the magnetic data on the disk.

Writing on the disk

A hard drive has 2 headers.

iv. Actuator arm

This moves the header there.

This allows data to be written and read anywhere on the platter.

v.Power connector

Connect the power required to

operate the hard drive.

vi. IDE connector

Transfers data to the plotter.

vii. Actuator

This is the electronic component that moves the connected arm.

This allows data to be written and read anywhere on the platter.

**Parts of Hard Disk**
Source: https://searchstorage-techtarget-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/hard-disk?

**Logic Structure of Hard Disk**
Source: https://ttrdatarecovery.com/services/hard-drive-recovery/logical-hdd-useful-guide/

Different between Internal Hard Disk and External Hard Disk

Magnetic tapes

Magnetic tapes have long been used to store audio and binary data, and are now used to store physical records. It is made of a thin and thin magnetic coating on a long and narrow plastic film. Digital data is magnetically recorded and backed up here to protect the data needed in the event of a disaster. This is also known as the antidote solution. This was improved in 1928 in Germany. Used in 191 to record computer data. Nowadays with the advent of digital imaging and audio-visual media storage, magnetic strips have become less common.

Floppy disk

Can be identified as a magnetic storage medium in a computer system. It consists of a thin flexible magnetic disk that is released into a carrier on a rectangular plate. The computer must have a floppy disk drive to read and write data on a floppy disk. In the early days of personal computers, floppy disks were used to create software backup file transfer files. Hard disks were used to store computer operating systems when they were expensive. The capacity of this device was high and the size was small.

2. Optical storage devices

These devices are also known as optical media, optical memory. Lasers write and read data. Used to store visual information recorded here. It is possible to store large amounts of data here. The advantage here is that you do not have to spend much, lose weight, and have to ease of transportation.

Optical disks

Can read and write data using laser beams. Electronic data storage medium. It was first traduced in the late 1960s.

Different between CD and DVD and BLURAY

3. Flash memory device

This device can erase data electronically. The program is also known as readable memory. No power source is required to hold the data here. These memory devices were invented in 1980 in Japan. These are non-volatile memories.

Memory card

Often stores digital data. Used to store photos or video electronic devices. Digital cameras, MP3 players can be said to be the devices that use this device. Storage size varies depending on the type of memory card. At present, the size is 4–128GB. The mechanical problems with traditional hard drives are minimal.

USB flash drive

USB This device is also known as a pen drive. The first USB flash drive was introduced in 2000 with a capacity of 8 megabytes. Data can also be deleted. Male is strong enough to withstand dust and is water-resistant. Data can be burned for a long time. No external power comparison is required. Writing a limited amount of data and increasing the number of times data is deleted can damage USB data. Security can be compromised by viruses entering these devices. Inserting operating systems into computers with the help of USB facilitates the transfer of data from computer to computer.

4. Online cloud storage devices

Cloud storage is the storage of data online or in a remote location using any device. Cloud learning can increase our work efficiency and productivity. Here you can back up your data and keep your data safe. We can see many advantages in using this cloud storage. This cloud storage allows you to store, modify, and share documents, spreadsheets, images, audio, and video with others. This requires an internet connection. There are many such devices.

Sync

This cloud service is used to exchange files. Allows file transfer from a computer or mobile phone. Can be used to store confidential as well as sensitive data. Features: — Provides unlimited data exchange. A registered account is not required and any file can be sent to anyone. Support for operating systems such as WINDOWS, ANDROID, and MACOS. Provide unlimited storage for groups. Integration with Microsoft office.

Google drive

A service provided by Google. Gives free. Provides 15 GB of free space. Ability to store data across all computing devices. Features: -Up to 2000 000 characters per page can be stored here on Google. Ability to create google docs, sheets, slides. Ability to create from the need to conduct surveys. Provide real-time normalization. Ability to connect with several external applications.

OneDrive

Microsoft has made it possible to store data based on the Internet, and anyone with a Microsoft account can use WINDOWS and MACOS to sync free download files. Features: — Ability to provide an expiration date for secure data and shared file photos. Ability to store files up to 15GB. The mobile phone can be used to scan business cards, receipts, and paper documents.

Dropbox

Server software file synchronization is a hosting service. You can launch projects individually or in groups. Features: — File size 15GB or less. Securely synchronizes data. MACOS / LINUX provides services for windows operating systems.

Number Of Users Per Cloud Storage Service Source: https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/cloud-storage-providers/

Most use storage devices

Nowadays, magnetic strips used in the past are no longer used in storage devices such as floppy disks and zip disks. This is because of the special features of the new model database devices. Thus, primary memory is one of the most widely used storage devices today. RAM, ROM, and cache memory are the main ones. One of the special features of them is that they can get the data done faster so that we can do our job efficiently. It also speeds up data aggregation. Also, the flash drive is one of the most widely used storage devices today. This is one of the advantages of using it. It is portable, easy to store, retrieve and manage data, and is one of the most widely used storage devices today. The uniqueness of these devices is that they are portable and affordable and have a large capacity. Currently, a network drive can be identified as a storage device used in computer networking. It is used to provide data requests on multiple computers or devices. It has a very high storage capacity. This allows you to share messages between computer networks. Cloud call can also be identified as one of the most widely used storage devices today. The advantage here is that the user can remotely control and distribute files. These devices also protect the data from being damaged by viruses or hackers.

Characteristics of computer storage devices

We can see some basic features that are common to all devices in storage devices.

1. volatility

· Non — volatile memory

It is possible to retain stored information that is not constantly supplied with electricity. That is, there is no loss of information in the event of a power outage. Used for long-term information storage Currently used for secondary tertiary offline storage.

· Volatile memory

It is the fastest technology today and requires constant power to retain and maintain data. These will erase the data stored during a power outage or shutdown of the computer. Volatile memory.

2. differentiation

· Dynamic random access memory

Volatile memory is a format that needs to be read, written, or refreshed from time to time. Otherwise, the data will be erased.

· Static memory

Volatile memory is a form of memory that exists until the power stays on and data is erased when the power is lost.

3. accessibility

· Random access

The uniqueness of this feature is that it can be used at any time to any location where data is stored.

· Sequential access

Access to information section by section should be taken one after the other in sequential order. Therefore, the access time to a piece of information depends on which information was last accessed. Such features can be found in offline storage.

4. mutability

· Read/write storage or mutable storage

Allows data to be overwritten at all times. Used in modern computers for reading and writing data as well as storage for secondary storage. You can only read or write data in the primary repository.

· Read-only storage

Retained in the database at the time of production. Can only write once (read several times) These are called immutable storage. These stores are used for offline storage. Examples are CD-ROM and CDR.

· Slow write fast read storage

Storage that allows data to be overwritten. But the reading process is much slower than the writing process. Examples CDRM and Flash memory

5. Addressability

· Location — addressable

Each individually accessible unit of information in memory is selected with its numerical memory address. In modern computers, location-addressable storage is generally limited to primary storage, which is accessed internally by computer programs, as location-addressable storage is very efficient but tedious for humans.

· File addressable

The information is divided into files of variable length and a particular file with human-readable directory and file names is selected. The underlying device is still location-addressable, but a computer’s operating system provides file system abstraction to make the operation more understandable. In modern computers, secondary, tertiary, and offline storage use file systems.

· Content — addressable

Each individually accessible unit of information is selected based on (a part of) the content stored there. Addressable content storage can be implemented using software (computer program) or hardware (computing device), with hardware being a faster but more expensive option. Hardware addressable memory is often used in a computer’s CPU cache.

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