CHAPTER 8: STORAGE

Storage is frequently used to mean the devices and data connected to the computer through input/output operations - that is, hard disk and tape systems and other forms of storage that don't include computer memory and other in-computer storage. For the enterprise, the options for this kind of storage are of much greater variety and expense than that related to memory.

In a more formal usage, storage has been divided into: 

----->(1) primary storage, which holds data in memory (sometimes called random access         

             memory or RAM) and other "built-in" devices such as the processor's L1 cache, 

----->(2) Secondary storage,which holds data on hard disks,tapes, and other devices requiring 

            input/output operations.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STORAGE

• All secondary storage is permanent
• Most Primary Storage is temporary.
• Secondary storage is usualy cheaper and large
• Primary Storage is expensive and smaller.
• Secondary Storage is bigger in capacity
• Primary storage is smaller in capacity (L2 Cashe is only 2MB)
• Seconday storage connects to the CPU via cables and therefore is slower
• Primary storage is closer to the CPU and/or is intergrated onto it and thererfore is faster