Ch.

4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 

Chapter 4
Storage Devices

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 38 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 

4.1 Backing up of data

Backing up refers to the making one or more spare copies of
data. Backing up files and data on a regular basis is seen as
good computing practice and many computer systems can be
set to back up files automatically on a regular basis. The
backups are often stored in a different place to the main
memory. This is in case of fire or some other situation that
could lead to irretrievable loss of important data/files.

Why back up data?

• To safeguard against loss of data due to failure of the original secondary
storage device. This could be due to hardware failure.
• To safeguard against problems caused by files being overwritten accidently.
• To safeguard against possible corruption of files (for example, caused by
power surges).
• To safeguard against damage caused by hackers. Hackers can cause
problems such as data corruption or data loss.
• Backups are also made in case the files need to be used elsewhere. This
protects the original files against possible corruption and loss.
 

4.2 Access types

A number of secondary storage devices are discussed in Section 4.3. As a matter of
fact the way data is stored and read by each of these devices is very different. This
section briefly discusses the two main methods of accessing data.

Serial  /  Sequential  Access  

A serial (or sequential) access storage device is one that stores files one-by-one in a
sequence. When a file is searched, it is necessary to start by the first file on the
storage device and then continue searching one by one until the needed file is found.
Serial access is primarily used on magnetic tape systems and is essentially a very
slow form of data access. It is used in applications where speed of access, or where
the order in which the data is accessed, isn’t important (for example in utility billing,
clearing bank cheques or producing pay slips).

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 39 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 

Direct  /  Random  Access  

A direct (or 'random') access storage device is one that stores files so that they can
be instantly accessed. When searching a file, there is no need to pass through other
files to get to the one you want. Consequently, it is much faster than serial access. It
is used in applications where data access speed is vital (for example, in online
systems such as booking air tickets or automatic stock control). Direct access is
used with magnetic disks, optical media and solid-state media.

4.3 Secondary storage media

Dating right back to the dawn of the personal computer, all systems have come
equipped with some form of secondary storage. When a user loads data into a
computer, the information is stored temporarily in the RAM. However, if the computer
turns off, the data will be lost. Secondary storage devices ensure that data is stored
permanently so that it can be used again later.
Secondary storage has another name, which is Backing storage. The latter name
was given due to the fact that these devices, which are discussed in this section, are
also used to store the backup data.
Devices fall into three different types of storage media:
• Magnetic
• Optical
• Solid-state.

4.3.1 Magnetic  storage  media  

Magnetic storage media depend on the magnetic properties of certain materials.

Fixed/Internal  hard  disk  drive  (HDD)  

Fixed hard disk drives are available on all computers and are the main method used
for data storage. On a PC this is usually a fixed hard disk
with read/write heads allowing data to be written to or
read from the disk surface.

Uses
• To store the operating system, systems software
and working data/files.
• Storing applications software that needs fast
retrieval and storage of data.
• Used in real-time systems (for example, robots)

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 40 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 
• Used in online systems (for example, booking airline tickets online).
• Used in file servers for computer networks.
Advantages
• They have very large memory capacities.
• They have a very fast data transfer rate.
• They have fast access times to data.

Disadvantages
• Can be easily damages if the correct shut down procedure is not carried out
or if it is hit.
• They have many moving parts when compared to Solid State Drives (SSDs).
• Their read/write operation can be quite noisy compared to SSDs.

Portable  hard  disk  drives  

These devices work the same way as fixed hard disk
drives but are usually connected to the computer via the
USB (Universal Serial Bus) port and can be
disconnected and used on different computers
(portable).

Uses
• They can be used as backup systems to prevent
loss of data.
• They can be used to transfer data/files/software between computers.

Advantages
• They have a large memory capacity.
• Data transfer rate is very fast.
• Data access time is very fast.
• They can be used as a method of transferring information between
computers.

Disadvantages
• They can be easily damaged if dropped or subjected to a strong magnetic
field.
• An incorrect shutdown procedure could lead to loss of data.

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 41 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 

Magnetic  tapes  
A magnetic tape is a very thin strip of plastic that has
been coated in a magnetic layer. Data is read from the
tape using serial access. This type of storage is useless
in real-time or online applications (due to the very slow
data access speeds) and is best suited for offline or
batch processing.

Uses
• Used for backups of file servers for computer networks.
• Used in long-term archiving of data. Magnetic tapes have huge data
storage capacities and are know to be very stable,
which make them ideal for long-term storage.
• Used as a backup media since all the data needs
to be stored.
• Uses in applications where batch processing is
used, for example, clearing of bank cheques, utility
billing and producing pay slips. In these
applications there is no need for any specific processing order and speed of
data access is not essential.

Advantages
• They are less expensive than the equivalent hard disk.
• It is a very robust technology (they don’t deteriorate very much over time).
• They have a huge data storage capacity.
• The data transfer rate is fast (this should not be confused with data access
time, which is very slow for magnetic tape).

Disadvantages
• Very slow data access times (need to real all the earlier records on the tape
until the required record is found).
• They are affected by magnetic fields. A strong magnet can corrupt data stored
on the tape.

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 42 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 

4.3.2 Optical  storage  media  

CD/DVD  disks  
CDs and DVDs are described as optical storage devices. Laser light is used to read
data and to write data on the surface of the disk. CDs and DVDs can be categorized
as follows:
• R – write only once.
• ROM – can only be read.
• RW – can be written to or read from many
times.
 
CDs tend to be used for files smaller than 1Gb, which are too big for a floppy disc to
hold, for example music and general animation. DVDs are used to hold larger files
than CDs (several Gb) such as movie films. Both CDs and DVDs are portable i.e.
they can be transported from one computer to another.

CD-­‐ROM  and  DVD-­‐ROM  

These optical disks are read-only memory (ROM), which means that they cannot be
written over and can only be read.

Uses
• CD-ROMs are used to store music files, software, computer games and
reference software (such as an encyclopedia).
• DVD-ROMs have much larger storage and are used to store films, computer
data and ever-more sophisticated computer games.
• CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs are used in applications where there is a real
need to prevent the deletion or overwriting of important data.

Advantages
• They hold far more data than floppy disks (one CD/DVD could replace several
floppy disks in some applications).
• They are less expensive than hard disk drive systems.

Disadvantages
• Data transfer rate is slower than for hard disks.
• Data access time is slower than for hard disks.
 

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 43 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 

CD-­‐R  and  DVD-­‐R  

The letter R here means the disk is recordable only once;
it becomes a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM once it has been
finalized (this means that the CD/DVD cannot have any
additional data written to it).
 
Uses
• Home recordings of music (CD-R) and films (DVD-
R).
• Used to store data to be kept for later use or to be transferred to another
computer.
Advantages
• Cheaper than RW disks.
• Once burned (and finalized) they are a ROM.

Disadvantages
• If the CD-R/DVD-R is finalized and an error in the
data has occurred, then the disk has to be
discarded since it can be no longer be written to.
• Space can be wasted if the CD-R/DVD-R was not
fully consumed before burning and finalizing it.
• Not all CD/DVD players can read CD-R/DVD-R.

CD-­‐RW  and  DVD-­‐RW  

The RW means that these disks are a rewritable media
and can be written over several times. Unlike CD-R/DVD-
R, they don’t become ROMs.

Uses
• Used to record television programs (like video
recorder), which can be recorded over and over again.
• Used in CCTV systems.

Advantages
• Can be written over many times.
• Can use different file formats each time it is used.

Disadvantages
• Relatively expensive.

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 44 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 
• It is possible to accidentally overwrite data.
 

DVD-­‐RAM  
DVD-RAM uses a very different technology to CDs
and DVDs. They have the following features:
• DVD-RAMs allow for simultaneous read and
write operations to take place.
• They allow numerous read and write
operations (up to 100 000 times) and have
great longevity (over 30 years), which makes
them ideal for archiving.

Uses
• In recording devices such as satellite
receivers to allow simultaneous recording and playback.
• Used in camcorders to store movies.

Advantages
• They have a long life.
• Very fast access if the files are fairly small.
• Very large capacity (about 10 GB).
• They offer the ability to read data at the same time as data is being written.
• It is possible to do a rewrite operation over 100,000 times (compare this to the
RW format, which only allows for about 1,000 rewrites).
• Writing on DVD-RAMs is very reliable – they have built in verification software,
so the accuracy of the data is ensured.
• No need to finalize the disk.
 

Blu-­‐ray  discs  
Blu-ray discs are another example of optical storage
media. However, they are fundamentally different to
DVDs and CDs in their construction and in the way
they carry out read-write operations.

Uses
• Home vide consoles.
• Storing and playing back movies (one high-definition movie of two hours
duration uses up 25 GB of memory).

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 45 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 
• PCs can use this technology for data storage or backing up hard drives.
• Camcorders can used this media to store movie footage.

Advantages
• Very large storage capacity, therefore ideal for storing high-definition movies.
• Very fast data transfer rate.
• The data access speed is greater than with other optical media.
• Blu-rays discs automatically come with a secure encryption system, which
helps to prevent piracy and copyright infringement.

Disadvantages
• Relatively expensive.
• Encryption problems (which are used to stop piracy) when used to store
video.

All these optical storage media are used as backup systems (for photos, music and
multimedia files). This also means that CDs and DVDs can be used to transfer files
between computers. Manufacturers often supply their software using CDs and DVDs.
When the software is supplied in this way, the disk is usually in a read-only format.
The most common use of DVD and Blu-ray is the supply of movies or games. The
memory capacity of CDs isn’t big enough to store most movies.

4.3.3 Solid  state  storage  media  

Solid  State  Drives  (SSDs)  

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are rapidly taking
over from HDDs.
The main advantages of SSDs over
HDDs are:
• They have no moving parts thus
more reliable.
• Because there are no moving parts, they are very thin.
• They are considerably lighter (making them suitable for laptops).
• They don’t have to get ‘up to speed’ before they work properly.
• They have lower power consumption (making them suitable for laptops).
• They run much cooler than HDDs (making them suitable for laptops).
• Data access speed is considerably faster than HDD.

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 46 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 
The main drawback of SDD is the questionable durability of the technology. Most
solid-state storage devices are conservatively rated at only 20 GB write operations
per day over a three-year period (this is known as SSD endurance). For this reason,
SSD technology is not used in internet servers, where a huge number of write
operations take place every day.

However, this issue is being addressed by a number of manufacturers to improve the

durability of these solid-state systems.

Memory  sticks/Pen  drives  

Memory sticks/pen drives can store several gigabytes of data. They are usually
connected to a computer through the USB port and power to operate them is drawn
from the host computer. They are extremely small and very portable. Most operating
systems recognize these storage media, which means no additional software is
needed to operate them.

Uses
• Transporting files between computers or
used as a backup store.
• Used as a security device to prevent
software piracy (known as a dongle).

Advantages
• Very compact and portable media.
• Very robust.
• Doesn’t need additional software to work on most computers.
• They are not affected by magnetic fields.

Disadvantages
• Can’t write-protect the data/files.
• Easy to lose (due to their small physical size).
• The user needs to be very careful when removing a memory stick from a
computer – incorrect removal (for example, when it is still doing a read/write
operation) will corrupt the data on the memory stick.
• Lower storage capacity compared to hard disk drives.

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 47 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 

Flash  memory  cards  

 
Uses
• Storing photos on digital cameras.
• Used as mobile phone memory cards.
• Used in MP3 players to store music files.
• Used as a backup store in hand-held computer
devices.

Advantages
• Very compact and can be easily removed and used in another device or for
transferring photos directly to a computer or printer.
• Very robust.

Disadvantages
• Expensive per gigabyte of memory when compared to hard disk drives.
• Have a finite life regarding the number of times they can be read from or
written to.
• Have a lower storage capacity than hard disks.

4.4 Cloud storage

Cloud storage is a method of data storage where data is stored on offsite servers,
which are owned and managed by a hosting company. The same data is stored on
more than one server (data redundancy) in case of maintenance or repair, allowing
clients to access data at any time.
Instead of saving data on a local hard
disk or other storage device, a user can
save their data ‘in the cloud’. Users
purchase cloud storage and can then
access all their files (for example,
photos, videos, music or e-books) from
any device anywhere in the world.
There are three common cloud storage
systems:
• Public cloud
o This is a storage environment where the customer/client and cloud
storage provider are different companies.

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 48 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 
• Private cloud
o This is a storage provided by a dedicated environment behind a
company firewall. The customer/client and cloud storage provider are
integrated and operate as a single entity.
• Hybrid cloud
o This is a combination of the previous two environments. Some data
resides in the private cloud while less-sensitive data can be accessed
from a public cloud storage provider.

Advantages
• Customer/client files stored in the cloud can be accessed at any time, from
any device, anywhere in the world (provided internet access is available).
• There is no need for a customer/client to
carry an external storage device with them, or
even to use the same computer, to store and
retrieve data.
• The cloud provides the user with remote
backup of data with obvious advantages to
lower the risk of data loss problem.
• If a customer/client has a failure of their hard disk or backup device, cloud
storage will allow recovery of their data.
• The cloud system offers almost unlimited storage capacity.

Disadvantages
• Security aspects of cloud storage (data security and data loss).
• If the customer/client has a slow or unstable Internet connection, they could
have problems accessing or downloading their data/files from the cloud.
• Costs can be high if a large storage capacity is required. It can also be
expensive to pay for high download/upload data transfer limits with the
Internet service provider (ISP).
• The potential failure of the cloud storage company is always possible – this
poses a risk of loss of all backup data.

4.5 Cloud security

Using cloud storage has many obvious advantages.
However, there are still security worries about using
cloud storage. The main fears are data security and
data loss.
 

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 49 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty
Ch.4: Storage Devices  
I.C.T.
 

Data  security
Companies that transfer large amounts of confidential and sensitive data from their
own systems to a cloud service provider are effectively relinquishing/surrendering
control of their own data security. This raises a number of questions:
• What physical security exists regarding the building where the data is
housed?
• How good is the cloud service provider’s resistance to natural disasters or
power cuts?
• What safeguards exists regarding personnel who work for the cloud service
company? Can they use their authorization codes to access confidential data
for monetary purposes?
In other words, data security issue is concerned with physical security of the cloud
storage.

Data  loss  
There is a risk that important and irreplaceable data could be lost from the cloud
storage facilities. Actions from hackers could lead to loss or corruption of data. Users
need to be certain that sufficient safeguards exist to overcome these potentially very
harmful risks.

All the above reasons have made individuals and companies nervous about using
cloud storage service providers. A ‘game’ between hackers and owners of online
service companies continues to simmer.

Eng. Mustafa El-Komy 50 Theory Notes

Eng.   Omar El Safty