Storage Devices

Storage Evaluation Criteria

Storage capacity
Access Time
Cost per bit
Volatility
Portability

Secondary Storage Devices

Magnetic Tape
Plastic Ribbon coated with magnetizable
material
Data is stored in form of magnetized and non
magnetized spots
Comes in a wide variety of forms ranging from
inch or inch wide and 50 ft to 2400 ft
length
Tape is divided into horizontal tracks and
vertical frames
Data is stored and accessed sequentially
Gap after between two records known as IRG
(inter record gap)
Storage capacity = Data recording density *
Length

Magnetic Tape
Advantages
Storage capacity virtually
unlimited
Low cot per bit
Can be reused
Easily portable

Limitations
Sequential access nature
Needs dust free
environment
Requires controlled
temperature and humidity

Uses
For applications based on sequential data processing
e.g. inventory master file
Archiving of data that is not used frequently
Back up of data stored on online device

Magnetic Disc
Thin circular plate of plastic or metal, coated
with manetizable material on both side
Data is stored in the form of magnetized and
non magnetized spots
Surface is divided into invisible circular
tracks, numbered from outside to inside
Tracks are further divided into sectors, by the
way of invisible pie shaped segments
To access data disc drive must specify
records disc address, which consists of
sector number and surface number
Storage capacity = Number of recording
surface * Number of tracks per surface *
Number of sectors per track * Number of
bytes per sector

Magnetic Disc
Advantages
Supports direct access of
data
Storage capacity virtually
unlimited
Low cost per bit
Portability

Limitation
Security issue because of
shared device
Must be stored in dust free
environment
Disc crash results in entire
loss of data

Uses
As a shared on line secondary storage device
As a back up file for off line storage
Archiving of data

Optical Disc
Disc coated with highly reflective
material
Data is stored using laser beam
technology
Laser beam is turned on and off at
varying rate, creating pattern of
burnt surface (tiny pits)

Optical Disc
Advantages
Cost per bit is very low
Single spiral track makes it
as ideal storage medium to
read large block of data
No read write head is
required that prevents
crashing of data
Portability
High storage life

Limitations
Data access time is higher
than magnetic disc
Needs complicated drive
system

Uses
For distributing large data at low cost
Archiving data not used frequently but once in a week
For distribution of electronic version of books, journals,
magazines

Flash Memory
Non volatile, electronic storage
Data is erased in blocks
Can be erased and reprogrammed
electrically
E.g. Memory card, USB

Flash Memory
Advantages
Very fast access
Non volatile
Portable
Resistant to temperature,
pressure
Less prone to damage

Limitations
Easier to lose due to small
size
For large storage capacity,
cost per bit is high
Limited number of write
and erase cycles

Uses
To exchange data
Exchanging electronic version of books, journals
To store back up files

Thank You