Computer data storage:
Often called storage or memory, is a technology consisting of computer components and recording media that are used to retain digital data. It is a core function and fundamental component of computers.
There arethreemain categories ofstoragedevices: optical, magnetic and semiconductor. The earliest of these was the magnetic device. Computer systems began with magneticstoragein the form of tapes (yes, just like a cassette or video tape). These graduated to the hard disk drive and then to a floppy disk.
Internal: Any sort of permanentstoragewhich isinternalto a computingdevice. Stuff like harddrives, SSDs, soldered on flash disks, etc.
External: Similar (or even exactly the same thing) as above. Just that it’s removable without needing to open thedevice.
Direct-Attached: deals with local disks in servers. The networking and high-performance interfaces still do not allow building diskless servers for all solutions. Built using a standardized protocol, Fiber Channel, SANs are designed for high-performance block-mode access to raw devices. SAN-attached devices have no concept of file systems, a notion that remains at the operating system. After being placed in complex and high-end infrastructures, SAN are now making their way into the smaller small and medium business (SMB) market.
Much of the upcoming challenge of the this industry is to propose simple ways of managing relatively complex storage components. The NAS fundamental is the utilization of a data network protocol, IP (and more precisely, TCP/IP) to a file-share protocol. NAS made its way from file-sharing appliances, which rapidly evolved into mature storage components. Each of these storage approaches has pros and cons, all of which depend on the objectives one is pursuing.
FAQs
There are three main categories of storage devices: optical, magnetic and semiconductor. The earliest of these was the magnetic device. Computer systems began with magnetic storage in the form of tapes (yes, just like a cassette or video tape). These graduated to the hard disk drive and then to a floppy disk.
What are the 4 main types of storage devices? ›
Table of Contents:
- Magnetic Storage Devices.
- Optical Storage Devices.
- Flash Memory Devices.
- Online Cloud Storage.
The most prevalent forms of data storage are file storage, block storage, and object storage, with each being ideal for different purposes.
What is 5 storage devices? ›
Floppy disks, optical disks (CDs and DVDs), hard disk drives (HDD), flash drives, and solid-state drives are examples of DAS devices (SSD). A storage device is a piece of hardware that can be used to store digital information and programs, such as photographs, videos, audio, and other types of data.
What are the two 2 main types of storage? ›
In the world of data storage, storage devices are divided into one of two categories based on how frequently an organization needs to access that data: primary storage and secondary storage.
How can we classify storage device? ›
Storage in computer systems
- Primary Storage: Random Access Memory (RAM) Random Access Memory, or RAM, is the primary storage of a computer. ...
- Secondary Storage: Hard Disk Drives (HDD) & Solid-State Drives (SSD) ...
- Hard Disk Drives (HDD) ...
- Solid-State Drives (SSD)
Computer Storage Devices
In the computer world, portable storage devices include flash drives, USB drives (thumb drives), external hard drives (sometimes called mini hard drives), and portable CD/DVD-ROM drives.
How many different types of storage are there? ›
Data storage devices come in two main categories: direct area storage and network-based storage. Direct area storage, also known as direct-attached storage (DAS), is as the name implies. This storage is often in the immediate area and directly connected to the computing machine accessing it.
How many types of storage units are there? ›
Data Storage Units: Smallest to Largest
| Data Storage | Units |
|---|
| Kilobyte | 1,000 bytes |
| Megabyte | 1,000 kilobytes |
| Gigabyte | 1,000 megabytes |
| Terabyte | 1,000 gigabytes |
6 more rowsThe 3-2-1 Rule is a data protection strategy that recommends having three copies of your data, stored on two different types of media, with one copy kept off-site.
A solid-state drive (SSD) is a semiconductor-based storage device, which typically uses NAND flash memory to save persistent data.
Is CPU a storage device? ›
Store: The CPU sends the outputs to the random-access memory (RAM) and the hard drive where they can store the data. The CPU can also store data temporarily, but only until the power turns off.
What is the most popular storage device? ›
Hard drives, such as the "C:drive," are the most popular form of data storage.
Which storage device is always virus free? ›
The correct answer is None of these. While some storage devices might be less prone to viruses than others due to their physical characteristics or usage patterns, no storage device can guarantee absolute immunity from viruses.
Is RAM a storage device? ›
RAM—a memory device for reading/writing data
Since random-access memory (RAM) is principally used as temporary storage for the operating system and the applications, it does not much matter that some types of RAM lose data when they are powered off.
Is RAM volatile? ›
RAM is volatile memory used to hold instructions and data of currently running programs. It loses integrity after loss of power.
What are 4 devices used to store information? ›
A hard disk drive or solid state drive holds all of the data; files, photos, programs, music, and movies, that the user wants to keep. Removable, external media storage devices such as flash drives and read/writeable CDs and DVDs are also secondary storage. A computer can't function without a storage drive, however.
What are 4 secondary storage devices? ›
Secondary storage refers to non-volatile devices that store data permanently, typically used to back up data from a computer's primary storage (RAM). Examples include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), USB flash drives, and optical media such as CDs and DVDs.
What is the most common type of storage device for? ›
The most common ones include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), universal serial bus (USB) flash drives, memory cards, and network-attached storage (NAS) devices.
What are 3 storage devices in terms of their purpose and capacity? ›
An external hard drive is also known as removable hard drive. It is used to store portable data and backups. Magnetic strip – Magnetic tape drive stores video and audio using magnetic tape, like tape and video tape recorders. Super disk – A disk drive and diskette that can hold 120 MB and 240 MB of data.
