Storage Devices and Media

Chapter 3
 Objectives
• Explain the term backup.
• Categorize different media for backup.
• Discuss the need for backup.
• Compare between Field, Record,File.
• Compare between Serial access and Direct
access.
• Compare between different storage media.
• List the uses, advantages and disadvantages of
different storage devices
 Backup
• Definition: Copying files to a different medium
in case of a problem with the main storage
device.
• Medium used to backup data:

Optical Disks Magnetic Disks Solid State Drive Online Storage(Cloud)

 Why Back up data
• To safeguard against loss of data due to a failure
of a secondary storage device.
 Reasons of storage device failure:
1. Hardware Failure.
2. Files overwritten accidently.
3. Corruption of files.

• To safeguard against damage caused by hackers.

• Files need to be used elsewhere.
• Files should be cleaned from viruses before
backup.
 Types of Access
• Data Access: The way data is stored and read by each storage
device.
• Important Terms:

Key field :a unique field used to sort the records

Registration Car Model Colour Engine
Number Size
Field :Feature or attribute
A1122 Honda Civic Black 1500

Record :Information about one

car

File :All the data together

 Types of access-Cont.
Serial/Sequential Access Direct/Random Access
Definition It works by starting at the beginning The computer uses the key
of the file and then access each field to calculate where data
record in turn until the required should be stored, it is able to
record is found. access the data directly from
the calculated position.
Used by: Magnetic Tapes only All Storage media except
Magnetic Tape
Speed Very Slow Very Fast
Needs to sort Yes No
data before
updating?
Needs extra Yes No
disk when
updating:
 Updating a Magnetic Tape

A
Master File(Old
Tape): contains
the data need to
be updated C
New Master File
(The New Tape):
Produced from
updating A with B
B
Transaction File
(The Additional
Tape): contains
the new data
 Example: A Bookshop
ISBN Title Author Genre Cost Price Selling Price

MF :Books stored
sorted by ISBN

NMF

TF: Changes
happen trough
the day (If a book
sells, If new books
come in, If a book
is out of print)
 Example: A Bookshop
• At the end of the day, the MF needs to be
updated as follows:
1. The TF is stored as the same order of MF.
2. NMF is created with the updated data.
3. The first record of MF is read and the first record
of TF is read.
a) Compare between them
b) If the key field of MF < TF no transactions done.
c) If the key field of MF =TF the record of TF is written to NMF.
d) If the key field of MF >TF the record of TF is written to NMF.
 Example: A Bookshop

MF

1 2 3 4 6 8 9

TF

1 2 4 5 7 8 10

NMF

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 File Sizes
Byte: is used to measure the size of memory or storage

Storage Size Number of Bytes

1 KB 1024 bytes
1 MB 1024 KB
1 GB 1024 MB
1 TB 1024 GB
 Types of storage Media
• Magnetic: Fixed Hard Disk Drive (HDD),
Portable HDD, Magnetic Tape.
• Optical: CD-R, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-
ROM, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, Blu-ray.
• Solid State: Solid state drive (SSD), Flash
Memory card (USB, pen drive) , Flash memory
card.
 Magnetic storage Media
• Depend on the magnetic properties of a
material (Iron and Nickel)
• Magnetic material is coated on the surface of
the disk that can be magnetized in a way to
represent 0 and 1, In case of tapes the plastic
is coated with a magnetic field.
• Hard disk drives contain more than one disk,
called platters.
 Fixed Hard Disks
• The main method for data
storage
• It has a read/write head allowing
data to be written and read
from.
• It is internal, not portable.
• Uses:
1- Store the OS, Data Files,
Applications.
2- Used in real time applications
and file servers.
 Fixed Hard Disks
• Advantages:
1- very fast data transfer rate and
fast access time.
2- Very large memory capacity.
• Disadvantages:
1- Can be easily damaged.
2- Their read/write operation is
noisy somehow.
 Portable Hard Disks
• It is connected to the computer
via the USB port.
• It is portable, can be used on
different computers.
• Uses:
1- Can be used as a backup system.
2- Can be used to transfer
files/software between computers.
 Portable Hard Disks
• Advantages:
1- The data access time and data
transfer rate is very fast.
2- They have a large memory
capacity.
• Disadvantages:
1- They can be easily damaged if
dropped or subjected to a strong
magnetic field.
 Magnetic Tape
• It is a very thin strip of plastic
that has been coated in a
magnetic layer.
• They are read and written to by
a read/write head.
• It uses serial access.
• It is useless in an online
applications.
 Magnetic Tape
• Uses:
1- In applications where batch
processing is used(speed of data
access is not essential).
2- Used as a backup media.
3- Used in long-term archiving of
data.
• Advantages:
1- Less expensive.
2- Very Robust.
3- They have a huge capacity.
4- The data transfer rate is fast.
 Magnetic Tape
• Disadvantages:
1- very slow data access time.
2- When updating, another tape is
needed.
3-They are affected by magnetic
fields.
 Optical storage Media
• Laser light is used to read data and to write
data on the surface of the disk.
• They use a single spiral track that runs from
the center of the disk to the edge.
• In different CDs and DVDs data is stored as
pits and bumps.
• Red laser is used to read and write the data.
 Optical storage Media
• R: write once only.
• ROM: can only be read.
• RW: can be written to or read from many
times.
• DVDs may be single layering or dual layering
(increases the storage capacity), both types
can store more than a CD because the pit size
and track width are both smaller.
 CD-ROM / DVD-ROM
• They cannot be written over and
can only be read.
• Data is stored as pits(1)and
lands(0).
• Pits are formed by a laser beam
etching the surface.
• Pits and lands are read by a low
powered laser beam that follows
the data stream and reads as a
spiral.
 CD-ROM / DVD-ROM
• Uses:
1- CD-ROM is used to store music file,
software, games.
2- DVD-ROM is used to store films,
computer data and sophisticated
games.
3- CD-ROM and DVD-ROM are used to
prevent deletion of important things.
• Advantages:
1- larger capacity than a floppy disk.
2-less expensive than HDD.
• Disadvantages:
1- The data transfer rate/data access
time is slower than hard disk drives.
 CD-R / DVD-R
• Recordable once only, it
becomes a CD-ROM or DVD-
ROM once it has been finalized.
• A laser beam produces heated
spots and unheated spots, then
the laser beam distinguishes
between the two types.
• Uses:
1- Home recording of music.
2-Store data to be kept for later
use.
 CD-R / DVD-R
• Advantages:
1- Cheaper than RW disks.
2- Once burned it becomes ROM.

• Disadvantages:
1- IF something wrong happens
while burning the CD or DVD, it ha
to be discarded.
2- Not all CD/DVD players can read
CD-R or DVD-R.
 CD-RW / DVD-RW
• The recording layer uses a
special phase-changing metal
alloy.
• Spots are produced that can be
read by a laser and then
interpreted s 1s and 0s.
• The system allows data to be
written, erased and rewritten
many times.
• Uses:
1- To record TV programs.
2-Not as wasteful as R format.
3-Used in CCTV systems.
 CD-RW / DVD-RW
• Advantages:
1- Can be written over many times.
2- can use different file formats

• Disadvantages:
1- Can be expensive.
2-It is possible to accidentally
overwrite data.
 DVD-RAM
• It uses different tracks.
• Allows simultaneous and numerous
read and write operations.
• Can be written to and read from
many times.
• Uses a phase changing material, a
laser heats the surface to write data
and erase data.
• Uses:
1- In recording devices such as satellite
receivers.
2-Used in camcorders to store movies.
 DVD-RAM
• Advantages:
1- They have a long life.
2- Very large capacity.

• Disadvantages:
1- Many systems won’t recognize
them.
2- Expensive.
 Blu-ray
• A blue laser is used.
• Can store up to 5 times more
data than a DVD.
• Doesn’t suffer from
birefringence (Reading errors).
• Come with a secure encryption
system.
• Uses:
1- Home video console.
2-Storing and playing back movies.
3- Backup.
4- Store movie footage.
 Blu-ray
• Advantages:
1- Very large storage capacity.
2- Very fast data transfer rate.

• Disadvantages:
1- Expensive.
2-Encryption problems.
 Future of optical media
• In Recent times both CD and DVD are showing
signs of becoming obsolete like Floppy disks
because of :
1-Online streaming of TV.
2-Saving music on different media like HDD,
Cloud, Streaming.
 Solid State media/SSD
• Is taking over HDD, they have no
moving parts and all data is
retrieved at the same rate.
• It uses electronically erasable
programmable read-only memories
(EEPROM)
• Advantages over HDD:
1-More reliable.
2-Lighter.
3-lowr power consumption.
4- Data access is faster.
• Disadvantages:
1- longevity of the technology.
 Solid State media/Pen drive
• Small and very portable.
• Uses USB port.
• Dongles: Security method, when
a software is being installed it
asks about encryption.

• Uses:
1-Transporting files.
2-Security device (dongle).
 Solid State media/Pen drive
• Advantages:
1-portable
2- Robust.

• Disadvantages:
1- Easy to lose.
2- Can’t write-protect the data.
 Solid State media/Flash Memory Card
• It uses erasable programmable
read-only memory (EEPROM)
• Uses:
1- Storing photos on digital camera
and mobile phones.
2-Used in MP3 players for music.
3-backup in hand-held computers.
• Advantages:
1- compact.
2-Robust
• Disadvantages:
1- Expensive.
2- Lower storage capacity than HDD.