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3. STORAGE DEVICES & MEDIA

Objectives

 Backing up of data
 Type of Access – Serial, Direct
 Necessity of secondary storage devices
 Secondary storage devices
 Magnetic storage media
 Optical storage media
 Solid state storage media

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What is backing up of data?

• Copying of files/data to a different medium (disk, tape,
flash drive, cloud etc.) is case of a problem with the main
secondary storage device.
• The backups are often stored in a different place from
the main storage so that in case of fire or some other
situation that could lead to irretrievable loss of key
data.
• It’s a good practice to take back-up on a regular basis

Secondary Storage Media

• Why is it necessary?
 Primary memory (RAM) is temporary
 ROM is read only
 Primary memory(RAM, ROM) is limited
 Primary memory is expensive
• Types – Magnetic, Optical and Solid State

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Types of Access -
• Slow form of access
• Records are read from beginning of the file
until the required record is found.
• Used in applications where speed and order of
data isn’t important (Eg: utility billing, clearing
bank cheques or producing pay slips)

Magnetic Tape

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Types of Access -
• Magnetic disks, optical and solid state media
are used as storage devices
• Key field used to calculate where the data is
stored
• Data accessed directly from calculated position
• Faster access
• Updating is done by replacing the old contents
• Used in applications where speed is vital
(Eg: online booking, automatic stock control)

Fixed/Internal Hard Disk

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Fixed/Internal Hard Disk

• Uses/ Applications
 Stores OS, Applications and User data
 Used in real time systems – Online booking, robots,
EFTPOS, automatic stock control etc.)
• Advantages
 Faster Data Access (Direct)
 Large storage
• Disadvantages
 Easily damaged if correct shut down procedure is not
followed
 Has moving parts compared to Solid State Devices (SSDs)
 Read/Write operation is noise compared to SSDs 9

Potable Hard disk

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Potable Hard disk

• Advantages
 Easy USB Connectivity
 Portable
 Can be used as a back-up device
• Disadvantages
 Easily damaged if dropped or subjected to
strong magnetic field.
 Incorrect shut down procedure may lead to
data loss

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Magnetic Tape
• Uses
 Batch processing – Pay slip generation, Utility billing (gas,
water, electricity), clearing bank cheques
 Back-up media
 Archiving data – long term data storage
• Advantages
 Less expensive than equivalent hard disk
 Robust Technology
 Huge data storage
• Disadvantages
 Slow data access time (Serial)
 Another tape is need while updating the data
 Can be affected by magnetic fields resulting in data loss
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CD/DVD

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CD-ROM/DVD
• Uses
 Stores music files, software, games, movies
 Used where there is real need to prevent deletion and
overwriting of important data.
 Back-up media
• Advantages
 Less expensive than Hard disks
 Portable
• Disadvantages
 Slow data transfer rate/access time than hard disks
 Delicate
 Less storage space than Tapes and Hard disks
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CD/DVD: R
• Uses
 Home recordings of music and films
 Data transfer, Software distribution
• Advantages
 Cheaper than RW
 Data once written cannot be deleted
• Disadvantages
 Error while writing may result in discarding the
disk
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CD/DVD: RW
• Uses
 Recording television programmes
 CCTV systems
• Advantages
 Data can be re-written many times
• Disadvantages
 Expensive than CD/DVD-Rs
 Accidental overwriting of data can occur

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DVD RAM
• Uses
 Recording devices in satellite receivers to record and
playback simultaneously
 Camcorders to store movies
• Advantages
 Rewrite operations possible over a million times
 Built-in verification software ensures accuracy of data
stored
 Large capacity
 Allow simultaneous read/write access
• Disadvantages
 Limited systems recognize DVD-RAM format
 Expensive
 Outdated technology – replaced by solid state memories
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Blu Ray Discs

• Uses
 Storing High definition,3D movies
 Back-up device
 Camcorders
• Advantages
 Large storage capacity
 Very fast data transfer/data access rate
 Built-in encryption system preventing piracy and
copyright violations
• Disadvantages
 Expensive
 Encryption issues
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Solid State Devices (SSD)

• Memory Sticks/USB/PEN Drives
• Flash Memory Cards

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Solid State Devices (SSD)

• Uses
 Back-up devices
 Cameras, Camcoders
 Mobile Phones
 Mobile CCTV Cameras
 Net Books
 Data Transfer/Portability

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Solid State Devices (SSD)

• Advantages
 Reliable - No moving parts
 Lighter, slimmer
 Fast and Constant speed than CDs
 Low power consumption, run cooler than HDDs
• Disadvantages
 Less durable/reliable than HDDs
 Cannot be used in Internet servers where huge
read/write operations takes place every day.
 Expensive per gigabyte of memory compared to hard
disk.
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Exam style questions

 Students want to transfer work from a computer in school to their
home computer.
They have the choice of using a CD or a pen drive.
Give three reasons why a student would chose a pen drive rather
than a CD. [3]
 A website designer has the choice of backing their work up using
either an optical disk or a hard disk.
Give two advantages of a fixed magnetic hard disc compared to
an optical disc to store data. [2]
 Give two ways small, high capacity storage devices have
influenced the development of portable equipment that can be
used for work and play. [2]

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