Storage Devices

Storage Evaluation Criteria

Storage capacity
Access Time
Cost per bit
Volatility
Portability

Secondary Storage Devices

Secondary
Storage
Device

Sequential
access

Magnetic
Tape

Direct
access

Magnetic
Disc

Optical
Disc

Flash
Memory

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