Computer Storage Devices.

What is the meaning of computer storage devices?

Computer storage defines as any kind of computing hardware that is utilized for storing, porting or retrieving information records and objects. Storage devices can hold and store data both temporarily and permanently. (Techopedia, 2020)

The usage of storage devices?

Consumers’ bank transaction records are maintained in a storage device in a banking system so that customers may examine their transactions at any time. A librarian can keep information on books in a library system. A borrowed or returned item Customers’ feedback is stored in a storage device, which is then used by the company. information in order to enhance their client service or offerings

Types of storage.

There are four main types of storage.

1. Primary storage.

2. Secondary storage.

3. Tertiary storage.

4. Offline storage.

1. Primary Storage

Primary memory is otherwise called “Main Storage”, “Main Memory” or “Internal Memory” just as they assume significant part for putting away information and applications as a briefly premise while the PC is running mode, in light of the fact that these storage devices are able to get to all information straightforwardly from CPU with the assistance of different information transports. These devices have restricted limit with regards to information stockpiling contrast with secondary storage devices.

Primary storage devices are accessible in two change like volatile and non volatile. Volatile storage is called transitory capacity in light of the fact that wherein all information are erased when force gets turn off mode yet its entrance time and reaction time a lot of fine to auxiliary stockpiling gadgets. Non volatile storage is long-lasting stockpiling in which nothing information eradicate when framework gets turn off. (Banger E. , 2020)

Examples: Register Memory

RAM

ROM

Cache Memory

2. Secondary storage.

Secondary storage devices are also called as “Auxiliary Memory” or “External Memory”. Secondary storage devices are unstable in nature; it implies that information doesn’t dispose of while having the chance to wind down power, where all information store for long time. Secondary storage devices have the speed of access of data is extremely slow contrast with primary storage devices, and they are less expensive too. Without primary storage devices, these secondary storage devices are futile on the grounds that secondary storage devices should be required the primary memory for handling information. Most importantly, whole information is moved into primary memory then information is having the opportunity to make for executable. (Banger E. , 2020)

Examples: Hard disk drives

Cloud storage

CD-ROM drives.

DVD drives.

3. Tertiary storage

Tertiary stockpiling offers the third period of capacity medium. It empowers with mechanical instrument that will assist with embedding and eliminate enormous capacity media into capacity gadget according to the framework’s need. Tertiary stockpiling frameworks are normally of article stockpiling type so every consistent record can be gotten separately. Tertiary stockpiling is utilized to move media in the middle of their drawn out capacity areas and accessible drives without human mediation. (Banger E. , 2020)

Example: Magnetic Tapes

Optical Disc

Optical tapes

4. Offline Storage.

Offline storage is storage that must be physically connected or inserted into a computer system every time you want to use it. It is not built into the system. Offline storage is a convenient way of taking your data with you but widespread distributed storage in the form of cloud computing is expected to reduce the appeal of offline storage.

These storage mediums are portable and compatible with a range of systems. Offline storage can also be used to create backups. Many organizations will backup to some older technology such as Digital Data Storage. Digital data storage makes use of digital magnetic tape technology and can be used as a cheap method of data backup that can be held offline until tapes are inserted to retrieve data. (BBC, n.d.)

Examples: CD

DVD

SD

USB flash drivers.

Types of storage devices.

There are four types of storage devices.

1. Magnetic storage devices.

2. Optical storage devices.

3. Flash Memory devices.

4. Online Cloud storage devices.

1. Magnetic storage devices.

Magnetic storage devices are also known as “Magnetic Media” or “Magnetic Memory” or “Magnetic Medium”. In the Magnetic storage devices all information is put away with utilizing magnetized medium, and those sorts of information saved in that medium in the binary structure like as 0 and 1. This magnetic storage device has likewise non-volatile capacity nature. The present, generally individuals are liked to magnetic medium in light of the fact that on the magnetic storage devices can be performed perused/compose exercises without any problem. Magnetic storage devices have immense capacities with respect to putting away information that it’s more appealing point. These capacity devices are not all the more expensive but rather their information getting to control is slow, yet this magnetic mechanism likewise to be utilized in the RAM that have great information getting to capacity to other. (Banger E. , n.d.)

Example: Hard drive

Floppy Disk

Magnetic tape

Magnetic drums

SuperDisk

2. Optical storage devices.

Optical storage alludes to recording information utilizing light. Regularly, that is finished utilizing a drive that can contain a removable circle and a framework dependent on lasers that can peruse or keep in touch with the plate. On the off chance that you’ve at any point utilized a DVD player to watch a film, put a CD in a player to pay attention to music or utilized comparative plates in your work area or PC, utilized optical storage. At first, a large number of these drives were perused just, which means they could just access information on currently made plates and couldn’t compose new substance to existing or clear circles. In any case, the read-just gadgets called CD-ROM drives altered home and business registering during the 1990s, making it conceivable to appropriate interactive media material like graphically rich games, reference books and video material that anybody could access on a PC. Presently, most drives can both peruse and compose the kinds of optical plates they are viable with. (Melendenz, 2019)

Example: CD

DVD

3. Flash Memory Devices.

Flash Memory was presented by Dr. Fujio Masuoka in 1980. Flash memory is otherwise called electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), in light of the fact that where piece of code like as programming can be compose and eradicated by electrically. Flash memory additionally utilizes for the putting away information to PCs just as electronic gadgets, for example, USB flash drives, MP3 players, advanced cameras and solid state drives. Flash memory is non volatile in nature since all information are continued in the memory when force is turn-off. (Banger E. , 2020)

Example: USB Flash drive

Memory card

SD card

4. Online Cloud Storage Devices.

Clouding is systematically model for storing data in computer, and in which entire data are stored in logically nature. Those clouding system are managed by other hosting companies. With the help of online clouding, all data can be access by couples of users anytime and anywhere. Big advantages are not place limitation as well as no need carry any storage device. (Banger E. , 2020)

Example: Cloud storage

Network media

Most used storage devices.

Ø Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Ø Solid State Drive.

Ø Random Access Memory (RAM)

Ø CD, DVD and Blu-Ray Discs.

Ø DVD-RAM.

Ø ROM.

Ø USB Flash Memory.

Characterisristics of computer storage devices

1. Volatility.

Non-volatile memory:

Will retain the stored information even if it is not constantly supplied with electric power.

Volatile memory:

Requires constant power to maintain the stored information. The fastest memory technologies of today are volatile ones. Since primary storage is required to be very fast, it predominantly uses volatile memory

2. Differentiation.

Dynamic random access memory

A form of volatile memory, which also requires the stored information to be periodically re-read and re-written, or refreshed, otherwise it would vanish.

Static memory

A form of volatile memory similar to DRAM with the exception that it never needs to be refreshed as long as power is applied. (It loses its content if power is removed).

3. Mutability

Read/write storage or mutable storage

Allows information to be overwritten at any time. A computer without some amount of read/write storage for primary storage purposes would be useless for many tasks. Modern computers typically use read/write storage also for secondary storage.

Read only storage

Retains the information stored at the time of manufacture, and write once storage (Write Once Read Many) allows the information to be written only once at some point after manufacture. These are called immutable storage. Immutable storage is used for tertiary and off-line storage. Examples include CD-ROM and CD-R

Slow write, fast read storage

Read/write storage, which allows information to be overwritten multiple times, but with the write operation being much slower than the read operation. Examples include CD-RW and flash memory.

4. Accessibility

Random access

Any location in storage can be accessed at any moment in approximately the same amount of time. Such characteristic is well suited for primary and secondary storage.

Sequential access

The accessing of pieces of information will be in a serial order, one after the other; therefore, the time to access a particular piece of information depends upon which piece of information was last accessed. Such characteristic is typical of off-line storage.

5. Addressability

Location-addressable

Each individually accessible unit of information in storage is selected with its numerical memory address. In modern computers, location-addressable storage usually limits to primary storage, accessed internally by computer programs, since location-addressability is very efficient, but burdensome for humans.

File addressable

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

Content-addressable

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

References

Banger, E. (2020, January 10). What is Storage Devices: Types, Examples, Functions, Uses. Retrieved from digitalthinkerhelp: https://digitalthinkerhelp.com/what-is-storage-devices-types-examples-functions-uses/

Banger, E. (n.d.). Magnetic Storage Devices: Examples, Types, Advantages, Disadvantages. Retrieved from digitalthinkerhelp.com: https://digitalthinkerhelp.com/what-is-magnetic-storage-definition-devices-examples-and-types/

BBC. (n.d.). Technical implementation (storage). Retrieved from www.bbc.co.uk: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zws3gk7/revision/1

Melendenz, S. (2019, June 01). Types of Optical Storage Devices. Retrieved from www.techwalla.com: https://www.techwalla.com/articles/types-optical-storage-devices

Techopedia. (2020, August 17). Storage devices. Retrieved from techopedia.com: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/1119/storage-device