Computer Storage

A computer storage is where digital information is held within a computer system. It's a fundamental part of how computers work, alongside processing data, connecting to networks, and handling input/output. Storage allows a computer to keep data and programs for later use, whether it's needed immediately or years down the line.

Unlike computer memory (like RAM), which is mainly for temporary use by the computer's central processing unit (CPU) during active processing, computer storage is designed for long-term data retention, even when the power is off.

What is Computer Storage For?

The main purpose of computer storage is to make sure data sticks around. It allows computers to:

Store the operating system and various applications. Save and retrieve files created by users, such as documents, pictures, and videos. Keep settings and configurations. Ensure data remains available even when the computer is turned off. Without storage, a computer would have to load its operating system and applications every time it starts, and any work not currently being used would be lost when the computer shuts down.

Storage vs. Memory (RAM)

It's important to understand the difference between computer storage and computer memory (RAM):

Computer Memory (RAM): - Purpose: Holds data and instructions the CPU is actively using for quick access.; - Volatility: Typically temporary; data is lost when the computer is powered off.; - Speed: Extremely fast access (measured in nanoseconds).; - Capacity: Generally smaller capacity (in gigabytes).; - Cost: More expensive per gigabyte than storage.

Computer Storage: - Purpose: Keeps data and programs for long-term use.; - Volatility: Usually permanent; data stays even when the computer is off.; - Speed: Slower access (milliseconds for traditional drives, microseconds for newer drives) compared to RAM.; - Capacity: Much larger capacity (in gigabytes, terabytes, or even petabytes).; - Cost: Less expensive per gigabyte than memory.

RAM and storage work hand-in-hand: programs and data are loaded from storage into RAM for the CPU to process, and changes can then be saved back to storage.

Storage Hierarchy

Computer storage is organized in a hierarchy based on speed, capacity, and cost:

Primary Storage: This is the fastest and most expensive storage, directly accessed by the CPU. It includes CPU caches, registers, and main memory (RAM). It's usually temporary. Secondary Storage: This storage is permanent, offers larger capacity, and is slower and less expensive than primary storage. Examples include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), and flash drives. The operating system and applications are typically stored here. Tertiary Storage: Used mainly for archiving and backups, this type of storage is slower, has very high capacity, and is the least expensive. Examples include magnetic tape libraries. It often requires some manual handling. Offline Storage: Any storage that needs to be physically connected to a drive to be accessed, such as USB drives or SD cards. Networked Storage: Data stored on remote devices accessed over a network, like cloud storage services.

Types of Storage Devices

Here are some common hardware devices used for computer storage:

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs): Use spinning magnetic platters to store data. They offer high capacity at a low cost per gigabyte but are slower because of their moving parts.

Solid-State Drives (SSDs): Rely on flash memory chips. They provide much faster access times, are more durable, and use less power than HDDs, but are generally more expensive per gigabyte. High-performance NVMe SSDs connect directly through a computer's fast data pathways.

Optical Media (CD, DVD, Blu-ray): Use lasers to read and write data on polycarbonate discs. They were popular for software, media, and backups but are less common for everyday storage now.

Magnetic Tape: Stores data sequentially, primarily used for long-term backups and archiving vast amounts of information due to its high capacity and low cost, despite slow access.

Flash Storage: Permanent storage using flash memory technology. Found in USB drives, SD cards, and as built-in storage in many portable devices.

How Data is Stored

Data is held on physical media (like magnetic platters, flash chips, or optical discs) in organized sections. The computer's operating system uses a file system to manage files and folders, track where data is located on the device, and control access. When data is needed, the operating system tells the storage device to read the necessary sections; when data is saved, it tells the device to write to available sections.

Storage in Pulsed Media Services

Pulsed Media deploys enterprise-grade storage across its seedbox, VPS, and dedicated server infrastructure:

Enterprise SAS HDDs provide bulk storage for seedbox plans. SAS drives are designed for continuous 24/7 operation in multi-drive server environments, with higher reliability ratings and vibration tolerance compared to consumer SATA drives.
NVMe SSDs serve as a caching tier. Rather than using SSDs for primary storage (cost-prohibitive at seedbox capacities), Pulsed Media uses NVMe drives to accelerate frequently accessed data through the Linux page cache and swap hierarchy.
RAID configurations vary by product line:
- V-series plans use RAID0 (striping) for maximum sequential read/write throughput — suited for high-bandwidth seeding.
- M-series plans use RAID5 (striping with parity) for data redundancy — a drive can fail without data loss.
- Larger arrays may use RAID50 (striped RAID5 groups) for both throughput and redundancy.
Storage quotas are enforced per user on shared seedbox plans, measured in GB or TB depending on the plan. Dedicated servers provide the full raw capacity of the installed drives.

See Seedbox Storage Quota for how quotas work on shared plans.