Computer Organisation and Architecture - Vol 3 | 31. Disk Characteristics by Abraham | Learn Smarter
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Knowledge
31. Disk Characteristics

The chapter discusses the characteristics and mechanisms of disks, including the differences between fixed and removable disks, as well as single and multiple platter setups. It explains key concepts such as angular velocity, seek time, rotational delay, and access time, relevant to understanding how data is stored and retrieved from disk drives. The chapter emphasizes the importance of addressing formats and transfer rates in optimizing disk performance.

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Sections

  • 31.1

    Disk Characteristics

    This section discusses the characteristics of disks, focusing on their structures, how information is stored and accessed, and the technology behind these processes.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.1.1

    Constant Angular Velocity

    This section explains the concept of constant angular velocity in disk rotation and its implications for data access in computer storage.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.1.2

    Accessing Information From Sectors

    This section discusses how information is accessed from disk sectors, emphasizing key concepts like angular velocity, data retrieval, and track organization.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.1.3

    Bit Density And Zones

    This section discusses how disk rotation at a constant angular velocity affects bit density and the use of zones to optimize data storage.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.1.4

    Individual Tracks And Sector Addressing

    This section discusses the principles of data storage on disk drives, focusing on how individual tracks and sectors are managed for efficient information retrieval.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.1.5

    Block Access Mechanism

    This section describes the block access mechanism of disk drives, detailing how information is retrieved from disks organized into tracks and sectors.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.2

    Head Mechanisms

    This section discusses the mechanics of disk head operations, emphasizing the role of angular velocity, track addressing, and bit density management.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.2.1

    Fixed Vs Movable Head

    This section discusses the differences between fixed and movable heads in disk drives, focusing on their mechanisms for data reading and writing.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.2.2

    Removable And Fixed Disks

    This section discusses the characteristics, mechanisms, and performance parameters of removable and fixed disks, including their structure, access methods, and the concepts of seek time and rotational latency.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.2.3

    Multiple Platter Mechanism

    This section discusses the multiple platter mechanism in disk drives, emphasizing the functionality of fixed and movable heads, track addressing, and the trade-offs between complexity and density.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.3

    Data Storage And Access

    This section details the mechanisms of data storage on disks, including operations such as accessing specific sectors and understanding the characteristics of disk structures.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.3.1

    Cylinder Concept

    This section introduces the concept of cylinders in disk storage, emphasizing the structure, accessibility, and data management of disks through the explanation of tracks, sectors, and zones.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.3.2

    Finding A Sector

    This section discusses the mechanics of data retrieval in disk drives, focusing on the constant angular velocity and the organization of tracks and sectors.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.3.3

    Addressing Format

    This section explains the addressing format of disks, focusing on the concepts of tracks, sectors, and bits in relation to disk operations.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.3.4

    Capacity Calculation

    This section discusses the calculation of disk capacity, focusing on the effects of disk rotation, track designation, zoned organization, and data retrieval mechanisms.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.4

    Performance Metrics

    This section focuses on understanding performance metrics for data retrieval in disk systems, emphasizing concepts such as seek time, rotational latency, and transfer time.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.4.1

    Access Time Components

    This section discusses the various components that affect access time in disk drives, emphasizing the relationship between track positioning, angular velocity, and data retrieval time.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.4.2

    Average Seek Time

    This section explains average seek time in disk operations, focusing on the constant angular velocity of disks and how information retrieval is affected.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.4.3

    Rotational Latency

    This section discusses the concept of rotational latency in the context of disk drives, exploring how the disk's angular velocity affects access times and data retrieval.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.4.4

    Transfer Time

    This section discusses how information is structured on disks, exploring the concepts of transfer time, seek time, and the characteristics of disk access.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.4.5

    I/o Transfer Rate

    This section discusses the factors affecting data transfer rates in hard disks, emphasizing access times, seek times, and the impact of disk rotation.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.5

    Hard Disk Controller Functions

    This section encapsulates the functions of hard disk controllers, including the mechanics of data retrieval and storage, track and sector organization, and the associated hardware characteristics.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.5.1

    Mechanical Movement Handling

    This section discusses the principles of mechanical movement in disk drives, focusing on angular velocity, track addressing, and the trade-offs in storage technology.

    Learning Practice

  • 31.5.2

    Signal Conversion And Data Writing

    This section discusses the principles of disk rotation, data retrieval, bit density management, and the characteristics of various disk types.

    Learning Practice

References

39 part b.pdf

Class Notes

Memorization

What we have learnt

  • Disks rotate at a constant ...
  • The utilization of zones ca...
  • Accessing data involves und...

Final Test

Revision Tests