LESSON 4 :
STORING DATA
INTRODUCTION
"When it comes to storing data, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution,"
says Orlando Scott-Cowley, Messaging, Security and Storage Evangelist at
Mimecast, a cloud and mobile data storage and security provider.
Storing data to an average computer user is not a menial job. The user
doesn‘t need to see under the hood how the digital bits are written to every
storage device used. To a learner, it is advantageous to discover how the
computer stores data to any computer storage, especially into the cloud.
BSIT students, as learners, they must learn and master the ins and outs
of storage devices.
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LESSON 4.1 – What is a Storage Device?
is any computing hardware used for storing, porting, and extracting
data files and objects. Storage devices are hardware devices used to
remember/store data. It can hold and store information both temporarily and
permanently and can be internal or external to a computer, server, or similar
computing device. A storage device may also be known as a storage medium.
◉ Primary Storage Device: Generally smaller in size, are designed to hold data temporarily
and are internal to the computer. They have the fastest data access speed and include
RAM and cache memory.
◉ Secondary Storage Devices: These usually have large storage capacity, and they store
data permanently. They can be both internal and external to the computer, and they
include the hard disk, compact disk drive, and USB storage device.
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LESSON 4.2 – Types of Digital Data Storage Devices?
Other computer engineers and scientists categorized digital data storage media generally fall
into one of five types or categories; they are:
1. Magnetic storage devices
2. Optical storage devices
3. Flash memory devices
4. Online/cloud storage
5. Paper storage
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Magnetic Storage Devices
Magnetic Storage Devices - Computer systems need to store data in digital format. One of
the most widely used types of digital data storage is magnetic storage. Magnetic storage
devices refer to any data storage using a magnetized medium.
Magnetic storage is widely used because it is relatively cheap in comparison with
other storage technologies. Magnetic storage is read-write, which makes it possible to reuse
the storage capacity over and over again by deleting older data.
Several types of magnetized media are used in computer systems, including
magnetic tape, floppy disks, and hard disk drives.
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Magnetic Storage Devices
Magnetic Tape - is one of the older types of magnetic storage media.
The magnetic tape recorder was invented in 1928 and was primarily
used for analog audio recordings. Before music CDs were introduced
in the 1980s, portable music devices used magnetic tape in the form
of music cassettes.
Floppy Disks - Also known as a diskette, floppy, or FD, the floppy disk is
another type of storage medium that uses magnetic storage technology
to store information. Floppy disks were once a standard storage device
for computers and lasted from the mid-1970s to the start of the 21st
century.
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Magnetic Storage Devices
Hard Disk Drives - are non-volatile magnetic storage devices capable of remembering vast
amounts of data. An electromagnet in the read/write head charges the disk‘s surface with
either a positive or negative charge; this is how binary 1 or 0 is represented. The disk surface
is divided into concentric circles (tracks) and sectors (wedges). Typical HDD capacities are
measured in Terabytes (TB). They can be installed inside a computer or purchased in a
portable (external) format.
Typical Applications for Hard Disk Drives:
◉ Desktop computers
◉ Laptop computers
◉ TV and satellite recorders 121
◉ Servers and mainframes
◉ Portable (external) drives are sometimes used to backup home computers or
transfer large files
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Magnetic Storage Devices
Benefits of hard disk drives:
◉ Capable of holding vast amounts of data at affordable prices
◉ Fast read and write speeds
◉ Reliable technology
◉ Relatively small in size
Drawbacks of Hard disk drives:
◉ Due to the nature of its moving parts, they will eventually wear and break
◉ Although very fast, waiting for the moving parts means it will never perform as fast
as solid-state drives
◉ More fragile and less robust than a solid-state drive
◉ Higher power consumption than an SSD
◉ The moving parts create some noise
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Optical Storage Devices
CD, DVD, and Blu-ray drives are optical storage devices. Binary data is stored
as changes to the texture of the disc‘s surface, sometimes thought of as microscopic pits
and bumps. These “bumps” are located on a continuous spiral track, starting at the center
of the disc.
Disc Capacities
In the pursuit of larger optical storage capacities, DVDs were created, followed
by Blu-Ray.
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Optical Storage Devices
Typical Applications for optical media
◉ CD – Audio and small amounts of data.
◉ DVD – Standard definition movies and data.
◉ Blu-Ray – HD video and large amounts of data.
CD/DVD - Despite being the same physical size, a DVD can hold more data than a CD. To
achieve this, a more tightly packed spiral track is used to store the data on the disc.
DVD-RAM - It differs from a traditional DVD in that data is stored in concentric tracks
(like an HDD), which allows read and write operations to be carried out at the same time.
Blu-Ray - squashes even more data into the same size disc as a CD or DVD. The spiral
data tracks on a Blu-Ray disc are so small a special blue (violet) laser has to be used.
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Optical Storage Devices
Recordable Optical Media
1. CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Blu-Ray-ROM :
Read-only – the data is permanently written to the disc at the point of manufacture.
2. CD-R, DVD-R, BD-R :
Recordable – blank discs that can be burnt (written to) once.
3. CD-RW, DVD-RW, BD-RE :
Re-writable – blank discs that can be burnt (written to) over and over again (can be
erased and reused many times).
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Flash Memory Devices
Alternatively referred to as flash storage, flash memory is non-volatile
computer memory.
Types of Flash Memory: NAND, NOR, and 3D Flash Memory
◉ NAND flash is a type of flash memory based on the NAND logic gate.
◉ NOR flash is a type of flash memory based on the NOR logic gate.
◉ 3D NAND Flash and 3D NOR Flash are flash memory technologies that layer
memory cells on top of each other in a stacked planar configuration. They offer
persistent, modular storage at speeds comparable to RAM.
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Flash Memory Devices
Examples of Flash Memories
1. USB Flash Drive - Also known as a thumb drive, pen drive, flash drive, memory stick,
jump drive, and USB stick, the USB flash drive is a flash memory data storage device that
incorporates an integrated USB interface.
Typical Applications for Flash Memory ➢ Range of capacities available
➢ USB memory sticks – saving and ➢ Fast speeds, with no moving parts of
transferring documents, etc. boot uptime
➢ Memory cards in digital cameras Drawbacks of Flash Memory
Benefits of Flash Memory ➢ Limited (but huge) number of write
➢ Portable, small and lightweight cycles possible
➢ Durability, flash has no moving parts to ➢ High capacities are uncommon
damage ➢ In relative terms, an expensive storage
option compared to an HDD
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Flash Memory Devices
Examples of Flash Memories
2. Secure Digital Card (SD Card) - Common types of memory cards, SD cards are used in multiple electronic
devices, including digital cameras and mobile phones.
3. Solid State Drive (SSD) - are non-volatile storage devices capable of holding large amounts of data. They use
NAND flash memories (millions of transistors wired in a series on a circuit board), giving them the advantage of
having no mechanical moving parts and immediate access to the data.
Typical Applications for Solid State Drives ➢ No moving parts to wear, fail or get damaged –
ideal for making portable computers and machines
➢ Smartphones Tablet computers
more reliable and durable.
➢ High-end laptops
➢ Uses less power than an HDD, increasing battery
➢ Two drive desktop solutions lifetime 127
➢ Portable drives are sometimes used in HD video ➢ Very quiet and generates less heat
cameras
Drawbacks of Solid State Drives
Benefits of Solid State Drives
➢ Expensive to buy (per GB)
➢ Extremely fast read/write speeds
➢ Limited in capacity due to the expense
➢ Small in physical size and very light, ideal for
➢ Limited amount of writes
portable devices
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Online Cloud Storage
Some users choose cloud storage instead of storing data
locally on a hard disk or other media. Cloud storage is an Internet
service that provides storage to computer users. Types of services
offered by cloud storage providers vary. Some provide storage for
specific types of files, such as photos or e-mail messages, whereas
others store any file. Many cloud storage providers offer additional
services such as encryption, passwords, Web applications, and Web
services. Cloud storage is available for all sizes of users, with various
degrees of storage services available for home and business users.
Cloud storage fee arrangements vary, depending on the user‘s
storage requirements. 15
Online Cloud Storage
Users Subscribe to Cloud Storage for a Variety of Reasons:
◉ To access files on the Internet from any computer or device that has Internet access.
◉ To store large audio, video, and graphics files on the Internet instantaneously, instead of
spending time downloading to a local hard disk or other media.
◉ To allow others to access their files on the Internet to listen to an audio file, watch a
video clip, or view a photo — instead of e-mailing the file to them. 128
◉ To view time-critical data and images immediately while away from the main office or
location.
◉ To store offsite backups of data
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Online Cloud Storage
Pros and Cons of Cloud Storage
The cloud is here to stay. It‘s already one of the best ways to backup and store
data, but cloud storage, like most things, has a list of pros and cons that are worth
considering. It‘s rare to find a use case where cloud storage shouldn‘t play a role in the
backup process, whether it‘s the sole method or part of a more critical strategy, but those use
cases do exist. For instance, if security is your absolute number one priority, it would
probably make more sense to use multiple physical backup locations, with safe and
encrypted hard drives that can‘t be used independently from one another (a hybrid cloud).
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Online Cloud Storage
Pros of Cloud Storage
4. Access to Your Data - To follow up on the
1. Instant Setup - You can sign up with one of the
previous point, once your files are uploaded to
best cloud storage companies and begin
the cloud, you can access them from your
uploading your data immediately.
desktop, from your cellphone or tablet, and from
2. Relatively Secure for the Average User - any other computer that has a web browser.
Relative to setting up your webserver to store
5. ow Start-Up Cost - Cloud storage is either billed
things yourself, or keeping the files on any
on a pay-per-use basis or divided into tiers, so
network-connected drive in your home, it
you can get started for next to nothing until your
stands to reason that billion-dollar internet
storage needs grow, and then the price will
infrastructure companies will have better data-
increase accordingly.
protection than you or me.
6. Ease to Scale - When you run out of storage
3. Ease of Use - Compared to running your own
space, you don‘t need to rush out and order new
off-site data backup scheme, the cloud is super
drives or anything of the sort. Simply upgrade
easy to use.
your plan, and you‘ll have more space available
to you instantly.
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Online Cloud Storage
Cons of Cloud Storage
1. Requires Internet Access - When you rely on the cloud to store your files, and you aren‘t
keeping a local copy, then you simply won‘t be able to access them without internet
access.
2. You Don’t Have Physical Control Over It - You‘re relying on someone else to run the data
center, and you‘re trusting that they‘re doing that correctly. We‘re usually talking about
huge-scale operations here, so it‘s not typically a concern.
3. Security Concerns for High-Profile Users - Celebrities and billionaires may not feel
comfortable keeping their data in the cloud, especially after some of the data breaches
and leaks that have been very public.
4. Vendor Lock-in - It‘s not always easy to move from one provider to another if your cloud
needs change down the road, and this is especially true when you have a ton of space.
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Paper Storage
Pape data storage refers to the use of paper
as a data storage device. This includes writing,
illustrating, and using data that can be interpreted by a
machine or is the result of the functioning of a machine.
A defining feature of paper data storage is the ability of
humans to produce it with only simple tools and
interpret it visually. Though now mostly obsolete, the
paper was once an essential form of computer data
storage as both paper tape and punch cards were an
everyday staple of working with computers before the
1980s. 20
LESSON 4.3 – Data Storage Management
Management and Prevention of the Loss of Data
and Information: 4. Viruses And Other Forms of Malware - This
1. Deleting Files By Mistake - This is a means that the data risks being corrupted
widespread problem and has happened to by malware, either directly or via broader
most people who deal with data, including damage caused to say, the operating
myself. system.
2. Power Failure - Many electronic devices 5. The Storage Device is Stolen - Whether
depend on electricity to function correctly through burglary, pickpocketing, mugging,
and maintain data. or other forms of theft, you can lose the
3. Spillages, Drops, or Other Physical entire device and all the information that's
Accidents - Anything that causes physical on it.
damage to the storage device can corrupt 6. Fires, Floods, Explosions and Other
data or prevent access to it. Catastrophic Events - These can all
destroy vast amounts of data.
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LESSON 4.3 – Data Storage Management
Fourteen Things You Need to Know About Data Storage 4. Establish a data retention policy. - Setting the right
Management. data retention policies is a necessity for both
internal data governance and legal compliance.
1. Know your data. - All data is not created equal
and understanding the business value of 5. Look for a solution that fits your data, not the
information is critical for defining the storage other way around. - Many think the only choice to
strategy. make is whether they need DAS (Direct Attached
Storage), a SAN(Storage Area Network), or a NAS
2. Don't neglect unstructured data - Think about how
you might want to combine multi-structured data (Network-Attached Storage, these are important
from your transactional systems with semi- choices, but they are insufficient.
structured or unstructured data from your email 6. Don't let upfront costs dictate your decision. - The
servers, network file systems, etc. real cost of storage comes from operating the
3. Understand your compliance needs. - If you are a solution over several years.
publicly-traded company or operating within a 7. Use a tiered storage approach. - Save money by
highly regulated industry such as financial services only using your fastest storage, like SSD, for data
or healthcare, the bar has been set high for that you actively use, and utilize less expensive
compliance and security. platforms, like the cloud, to store your 136 archival
or backup data.
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LESSON 4.3 – Data Storage Management
the first priority, secure both virtually and physically.
8. Know your clouds. - Some clouds are optimized to
handle archiving, others have the performance and 12. Leverage technologies that use reduplication.
stability to act as the back end for a primary data snapshotting and cloning. - This can save you a fair
storage system, and still, others aren't worth the risk amount of space while giving you version control of
for any purpose. your data. Some of the more recent file systems like
ZFS do all of this and are open source.
9. Carefully vet storage providers. - There are many
viable storage solutions in the marketplace that will 13. Make sure you can find the data you need once it's
meet your requirements. When problems arise been stored. - Being able to easily search your
within the storage network, they typically have a big electronically stored data and provide accurate
impact on your organization. results instantly is critical to getting the most out of
your data daily and in urgent situations, such as
10. Don't store redundant data. - Many companies do
when your data is needed for litigation.
not have a storage plan. Instead, they tend to
capture and store redundant data. 14. Have a disaster recovery plan -- and constantly
test. - It's all about recovery. All the backups in the
11. Make sure your data is secure. - When managing
world cannot save you if you can't recover [your
data within any IT environment, security has to be
data].
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LESSON 4.4 –Measuring and Improving Drive Performance
The performance of a hard disk is significant to the overall speed of the system a slow
hard disk having the potential to hinder a fast processor like no other system component and
several factors determine the sufficient speed of a hard disk.
Hard Drive Latency - Latency is the average time for the sector being accessed to rotate into
position under a head, after a completed seek. It is easily calculated from the spindle speed, being
the time for half a rotation.
Hard Drive Transfer Rates - The disk transfer rate (sometimes called media rate) is the speed at
which data is transferred to and from the disk media (actual disk platter) and is a function of the
recording frequency. It is generally described in megabytes per second (MBps).
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LESSON 4.4 –Measuring and Improving Drive Performance
Disk Optimization - Alternatively referred to as disk compression, a disk optimization is designed to organize data
or compress data allowing the disk drive to contain the maximum amount of information as possible.
Benefits of Disk Optimization
○ Scanning for and removal of Junk files (that include Windows temporary files that are created and left
behind by software applications and temporary Internet files that accumulate when you are browsing
web content);
○ Scanning and defragmentation of hard disks (increases access speeds by rearranging the files stored on
the hard disk. This reduces the time it takes to read files from and write files to the disk.);
○ Removal of old backups (deleting old restore points or Windows update files to free up disk space);
○ Compression of large files to further free up disk space
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LESSON 4.4 –Measuring and Improving Drive Performance
Disk Defragmentation - is the process of
consolidating fragmented data on a volume (such as
a hard disk or a storage device) to work more
efficiently. Fragmentation happens to a volume over
time as you save, change, or delete files. The
changes you keep to a file are often stored in a
different place on the volume than the original file.
Disk Defragmenter is a tool that rearranges the data
on your volume and reunites fragmented data so
your computer can run more efficiently.
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Thanks!
STAY SAFE EVERYONE!
You can find me at
◉ https://fb.com/aswaggero and
◉ cenita1994@gmail.com
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