ANN GENEVIEVE T.

FLORES BSBA2-1

1. A storage medium is the physical material on which a computer keeps data, instructions,
and information. The number of bytes (characters) a storage medium can hold is its
capacity. A storage device is the computer hardware that records and/or retrieves items
to and from storage media. Writing is the process of transferring items from memory to
a storage medium, and reading is the process of transferring these items from a storage
medium into memory.

2. A hard disk, also called a hard disk drive or hard drive, is a storage device that contains
one or more inflexible, circular platters that use magnetic particles to store data,
instructions, and information. Traditionally, hard disks stored data using longitudinal
recording, which aligned the magnetic particles horizontally. With perpendicular
recording, hard disks align the particles vertically, making much greater storage
capacities possible. The capacity of a hard disk is determined from whether it uses
longitudinal or perpendicular recording, the number of platters it contains, and the
composition of the magnetic coating on the platters. A platter is made of aluminum,
glass, or ceramic and is coated with a material that allows items to be recorded
magnetically on its surface. Each platter has two read/write heads, one for each side.
The location of a read/write head often is referred to by its cylinder, which is the vertical
section of a track that passes through all platters. Formatting is the process of dividing
the disk into tracks and sectors. A track is a narrow recording band that forms a full
circle on the surface of the disk. The disk’s storage locations are divided into pie-shaped
sections, which break the tracks into small arcs called sectors. While the computer is
running, the platters in the hard disk rotate at 5,400 t 15,000 revolutions per minute
(rpm), which allows nearly instant access to all tracks and sectors on the platters.
Transfer rate is the speed with which data, instructions, and information transfer to and
from a storage device. Access time measures the amount of time it takes a storage
device to locate an item on a storage medium, or the time required to deliver an item
from memory to the processor.

3. A network attached storage (NAS) device is a server connected to a network with the
sole purpose of providing storage. NAS devices often use a RAID con" guration” An
external hard disk is a separate freestanding hard disk that connects with a cable to a
USB or FireWire port on the system unit or communicates wirelessly. External hard disks
have storage capacities up to 4 TB and more. A removable hard disk can be inserted or
removed from a built-in or external drive. Removable hard disks have storage capacities
up to 1 TB. A disk controller consists of a special-purpose chip and electronic circuits
that control the transfer of data, instructions, and information from a disk to and from
the system bus and other components in a computer. A hard disk controller may be part
of the hard disk on the motherboard, or it may be a separate adapter card inside the
system unit.
4. Flash memory chips are a type of solid state media, which means they consist entirely of
electronic components and contain no moving parts. A solid state drive (SSD) typically
uses! ash memory to store data, instructions, and information. A memory card is a
removable! ash memory device that you insert and remove from a slot in a computer,
mobile device, or card reader/writer. Common memory cards include CompactFlash
(CF), Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) micro SD, micro SDHC,
XD Picture Card, Memory Stick, and Memory Stick Micro (M2). A USB flash drive,
sometimes called a thumb drive, is a ash memory storage device that plugs in a port on
a computer or mobile device. An Express Card module is a removable device that " ts in
an Express Card slot. Express Card modules can add memory, storage, communications,
or other capabilities to a computer.

5. Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides storage for computer users. Available
for all sizes of users, with various degrees of storage services available for home and
business users, cloud storage fees vary, depending on the user’s storage requirements.
Advantages include accessing " less on the Internet from any computer or device with
Internet access; storing large audio, video, and graphics " les on the Internet
instantaneously; allowing others to access their " les on the Internet; viewing time-
critical data and images immediately; storing off-site backups of data; and providing
data center functions.

6. An optical disc is a type of storage media that consists of a at, round, portable disc
made of metal, plastic, and lacquer that is written and read by a laser. Optical discs,
which primarily store software, data, digital photos, movies, and music, contain
microscopic pits (indentations) and lands (at areas) in their middle layer. Optical discs
commonly store items in a single track that spirals from the center of the disc to its
edge. Like a hard disk, the single track is divided into evenly sized sectors.

7. A CD-ROM, or compact disc read-only memory, is a type of optical disc that uses laser
technology to store items. Users can read the contents of standard CD-ROMs but cannot
erase or modify their contents. A CD-R (compact disc-recordable) is a multisession disc
on which users can record their own items, such as text, graphics, and audio. Each part
of a CD-R can be written on only one time, and the disc’s contents cannot be erased. A
CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable) is an erasable disc that can be written on multiple
times. An archive disc stores photos from an online photo center in the jpg " le format.
A Picture CD is a single-session CD-ROM that stores digital versions of " lm using the jpg
format at a lower resolution than an archive disc. A DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc-
read-only memory or digital video disc-read-only memory) is a high Capacity optical disc
that you can read but not write on or erase. A newer, more expensive DVD format is
Blu-ray Disc-ROM (BD-ROM), with higher capacity and better quality than standard
DVDs. Many types of recordable and rewritable DVD formats are available. DVD-R and
DVD+Rare DVD-recordable formats. BD-R is a high-capacity DVD-recordable format.
 DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD+RAM are rewritable DVD formats that allow users to
erase and record multiple times. BD-RE is a high-capacity rewritable DVD format.

8. Tape is a magnetically coated ribbon of plastic capable of storing large amounts of data
and information at a low cost. A tape drive reads and writes data and information on
tape. Business users utilize tape most often for long-term storage and backup. A
magnetic stripe card is a credit card, entertainment card, bank card, or other similar
card with a stripe that contains information identifying you and the card. A magnetic
stripe card reader reads the information stored on the stripe. A smart card, which is
similar in size to a credit or ATM card, stores data on a thin microprocessor embedded in
the card. A smart card reader reads the information on the smart card and updates it if
necessary. Microfilm is a 100- to 215-foot roll of " lm. Microfiche is a small sheet of
" lm, usually about 4 3 6 inches. Micro" lm and micro" che reduce the amount of paper
" rms must handle, are inexpensive, and have the longest life of any storage media.
Enterprises use computers, servers, and networks to manage and store huge volumes of
data and information. In an enterprise, some storage systems can provide more than
185 TB of storage, and optical disc servers hold hundreds of optical discs.