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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
Get started
Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
dedicated cloud
A dedicated cloud is a single-tenant cloud infrastructure, which essentially acts as an isolated, single-tenant public cloud. Continue Reading
megabyte (MB)
A megabyte is a unit of data capacity that is equal to 1,000,000 bytes in decimal notation (base 10) or 1,048,576 bytes in binary notation (base 2). Continue Reading
iSCSI initiator
An Internet Small Computer System Interface initiator is software or hardware that lets a host computer send data to an external iSCSI-based storage array through an Ethernet network adapter over a TCP-based IP network. Continue Reading
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cloud storage service
A cloud storage service is a business that maintains and manages its customers' data and makes that data accessible over a network, usually the internet. Continue Reading
external storage device
An external storage device, also referred to as auxiliary storage and secondary storage, is a device that contains all the addressable data storage that is not inside a computer's main storage or memory. Continue Reading
file synchronization (file sync)
File synchronization (file sync) is a method of keeping files that are stored in several different physical locations up to date.Continue Reading
HDD form factor (hard disk drive form factor)
HDD form factor (hard disk drive form factor) is the size or geometry of a data storage device equipped with one or more magnetic-coated spinning platters and one or more moving actuator arms with magnetic heads to read and write information.Continue Reading
A primer on storage anomaly detection
Storage admins should continuously monitor systems to identify and act upon unusual behavior. Anomaly detection can proactively address issues before they become serious problems.Continue Reading
hardware RAID (hardware redundant array of independent disk)
Hardware RAID is a form of RAID (redundant array of independent disks) where processing is done on the motherboard or a separate RAID card.Continue Reading
exbibyte (EiB)
An exbibyte (EiB) is a unit that measures data capacity.Continue Reading
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How to handle Google Cloud Storage costs
The cost of Google Cloud Storage isn't just about stored data. Administrators must also consider processing, network usage, retrieval and replication.Continue Reading
block storage
Block storage is an approach to data storage in which each volume acts as an individual hard drive that is configured by the administrator.Continue Reading
continuous data protection (CDP)
Continuous data protection (CDP), also known as continuous backup, is a backup and recovery storage system in which all the data in an enterprise is backed up whenever any change is made.Continue Reading
An introduction to hybrid multi-cloud storage
When implementing hybrid multi-cloud, IT teams must continually monitor and evaluate their environments. Understand best practices for this new type of storage platform.Continue Reading
email archiving
Email archiving is a systematic approach to saving and protecting the data contained in emails to enable fast retrieval.Continue Reading
SAN switch (storage area network switch)
A SAN switch (storage area network switch) is a device that connects servers and shared pools of storage devices and is dedicated to moving storage traffic.Continue Reading
Tier 0
Tier 0 is a level of data storage that is faster, and perhaps more expensive, than any other level in the storage hierarchy.Continue Reading
Comparing RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and 50 explained
RAID protects data and improves storage performance and availability, but it can be confusing. Read about the different levels of RAID, the pros and cons, and where they work best.Continue Reading
Compare Google Cloud Storage vs. Google Drive for enterprises
Explore the differences between Google Cloud Storage and Google Drive, such as storage type and space, to decide what's best for your enterprise, and consider their similarities.Continue Reading
object storage
Object storage, also called object-based storage, is an approach to addressing and manipulating data storage as discrete units, called objects.Continue Reading
Fibre Channel switch (FC switch)
A Fibre Channel (FC) switch is a networking device that's compatible with the FC protocol and designed for use in a dedicated storage area network (SAN).Continue Reading
Compare block vs. file vs. object storage differences, uses
Object storage has surged in popularity, but file and block still have clearly defined uses. Access, metadata and performance are among admins' key considerations.Continue Reading
zebibyte (ZiB)
A zebibyte (ZiB) is a unit used to measure computing and storage capacity.Continue Reading
virtual storage area network (VSAN)
A virtual storage area network (VSAN) is a logical partition in a physical storage area network (SAN).Continue Reading
yobibyte (YiB)
A yobibyte (YiB) is a unit of measure used to describe data capacity as part of the binary system of measuring computing and storage capacity.Continue Reading
2023 data storage conference lineup spotlights memory, cloud
While the previous three years featured mostly virtual or hybrid events, in-person shows dominated the 2023 storage conference calendar but with on-demand video often available.Continue Reading
archive
An archive is a collection of data moved to a repository for long-term retention, to be kept separate for compliance reasons or moved off primary storage media.Continue Reading
Compare file storage options in the cloud
In the hot market of file storage in the public cloud, many options are available across some of the largest vendors, with performance a major consideration.Continue Reading
cold storage
Cold storage is a computer system or mode of operation designed for the retention of inactive data.Continue Reading
RAID controller
A RAID controller is a hardware device or software program used to manage hard disk drives or solid-state drives in a computer or storage array so they work as a logical unit.Continue Reading
blockchain storage
Blockchain storage is a way of saving data in a decentralized network, which utilizes the unused hard disk space of users across the world to store files.Continue Reading
RAID 4 (redundant array of independent disks)
RAID 4 (redundant array of independent disks) is a RAID configuration that uses a dedicated parity disk and block-level striping across multiple disks.Continue Reading
What are 3 top Google Cloud Storage limitations?
While Google Cloud Storage has several limitations, these three are among the most prevalent -- but users have straightforward ways to get around them.Continue Reading
capacity management
Capacity management is the broad term describing a variety of IT monitoring, administration and planning actions that ensure that a computing infrastructure has adequate resources to handle current data processing requirements, as well as the ...Continue Reading
RAID 6
RAID 6, also known as double-parity RAID, is one of several RAID schemes that work by placing data on multiple disks and enabling I/O operations to overlap in a balanced way, improving performance.Continue Reading
How to create an Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 account
This tutorial details two different ways admins can set up an Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 account, which will be a necessity when Gen1 isn't an option anymore.Continue Reading
semiconductor fab
A semiconductor fab -- short for fabrication -- is a manufacturing plant in which raw silicon wafers are turned into integrated circuits (ICs).Continue Reading
quad-level cell NAND (QLC NAND)
Quad-level cell NAND (QLC NAND) is a form of NAND flash memory that can store up to 4 bits of data per memory cell.Continue Reading
A primer for edge infrastructure deployments
There are several questions to ask and approaches to consider regarding edge storage and infrastructure. An example of use may help your organization decide on implementation.Continue Reading
hot plugging
Hot plugging is the addition of a component to a running computer system without significant interruption to the operation of the system.Continue Reading
floating gate transistor (FGT)
A floating gate transistor (FGT) is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology capable of holding an electrical charge in a memory device that is used to store data.Continue Reading
pebibyte (PiB)
A pebibyte (PiB) is a unit of measure that describes data capacity.Continue Reading
flash memory card
A flash memory card -- sometimes called a storage card -- is a small storage device that uses non-volatile semiconductor memory to store data on portable or remote computing devices.Continue Reading
NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)
NVMe over Fabrics, also known as NVMe-oF and non-volatile memory express over fabrics, is a protocol specification designed to connect hosts to storage across a network fabric using the NVMe network protocol.Continue Reading
tebibyte (TiB)
A tebibyte (TiB) is a unit of measure used to describe computing capacity.Continue Reading
all-flash array (AFA)
An all-flash array (AFA), also known as a solid-state storage disk system or a solid-state array, is an external storage array that supports only flash media for persistent storage.Continue Reading
flash storage
Flash storage is any type of drive, repository or system that uses flash memory to write and store data for an extended period.Continue Reading
EEPROM vs. flash memory: What's the difference?
Even though there might be a 10 million-to-one price-per-gigabyte difference between EEPROM and NAND flash, each memory type makes sense in its own role.Continue Reading
PCIe SSD (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express solid-state drive)
A PCIe SSD (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express solid-state drive) is a high-speed expansion card that attaches a computer to its peripherals.Continue Reading
NVMe (non-volatile memory express)
NVMe (non-volatile memory express) is a transfer protocol created to accelerate the transfer speed of data in solid-state storage devices.Continue Reading
M.2 SSD
An M.2 SSD is a small form factor solid-state drive (SSD) that internally mounted storage expansion cards use.Continue Reading
A primer on SSD response time, other performance benchmarks
Consider several SSD performance benchmarks, including SSD response time, as key units of measurement. Also, note the difference between benchmarks and load generators.Continue Reading
flash memory
Flash memory, also known as flash storage, is a type of nonvolatile memory that erases data in units called blocks and rewrites data at the byte level.Continue Reading
hybrid flash array
A hybrid flash array is a solid-state storage system that contains a mix of flash memory drives and hard disk drives.Continue Reading
Flash memory vs. RAM: What's the difference?
Even though vendors refer to flash memory and conventional RAM -- the main memory of a PC or server -- as solid-state memory, these two memory types are significantly different.Continue Reading
Charge trap technology advantages for 3D NAND flash drives
Flash drive cells based on charge trap technology have several advantages over older floating gate cells. However, take note of potential reliability issues.Continue Reading
How to purchase SSDs during a NAND flash price drop
Although NAND prices are collapsing, that doesn't mean they will pop back up at some future date. It's rarely a good idea to purchase SSDs well before they are needed.Continue Reading
SSD form factor
An SSD form factor is the size, configuration or physical arrangement of solid state storage media. The form factor determines the media's physical compatibility and interchangeability with other computer components or devices.Continue Reading
write endurance
Write endurance is the number of program/erase (P/E) cycles that can be applied to a block of flash memory before the storage media becomes unreliable.Continue Reading
NOR flash memory
NOR flash memory is one of two types of non-volatile storage technologies.Continue Reading
mebibyte (MiB)
A mebibyte (MiB) is a unit of measurement used in computer data storage.Continue Reading
gibibyte (GiB)
A gibibyte (GiB) is a unit of measure of capacity in computing.Continue Reading
3D NAND flash
3D NAND is a type of non-volatile flash memory in which the memory cells are stacked vertically in multiple layers.Continue Reading
SerDes (serializer/deserializer)
A SerDes or serializer/deserializer is an integrated circuit (IC or chip) transceiver that converts parallel data to serial data and vice-versa.Continue Reading
NAND flash memory
NAND flash memory is a type of non-volatile storage technology that does not require power to retain data.Continue Reading
A primer on quantum computing storage and memory
Quantum computing storage and memory are quite different from traditional storage. The implications for storage capacity, for example, are extraordinary.Continue Reading
storage at the edge
Storage at the edge is the collective methods and technologies that capture and retain digital information at the periphery of the network, as close to the originating source as possible.Continue Reading
megabytes per second (MBps)
Megabytes per second (MBps) is a unit of measurement for data transfer speed to and from a computer storage device.Continue Reading
green cloud
Green cloud refers to the potential environmental benefits that green IT services delivered over the internet can offer to individual companies and society as a whole.Continue Reading
protected mode
Protected mode, also called protected virtual address mode, is the primary mode of operation for an Intel-based x86 microprocessor.Continue Reading
Compare Azure Blob Storage vs. Data Lake
Capacity, security features and pricing are just a few of the many factors to consider when organizations compare Azure Blob Storage and Data Lake.Continue Reading
RAID 5
RAID 5 is a redundant array of independent disks configuration that uses disk striping with parity.Continue Reading
disk mirroring (RAID 1)
Disk mirroring, also known as RAID 1, is the replication of data to two or more disks.Continue Reading
RAID 0 (disk striping)
RAID 0 (disk striping) is the process of dividing a body of data into blocks and spreading the data blocks across multiple storage devices, such as hard disks or solid-state drives (SSDs), in a redundant array of independent disks group.Continue Reading
software portability
Software portability is a characteristic attributed to a computer program if it can run with minimal rework on operating systems (OSes) other than the one for which it was created.Continue Reading
NFS vs. CIFS vs. SMB: What are the differences?
There are stark differences among file sharing protocols NFS, CIFS and SMB. Compare access, application deployment, configuration and security, among other key features.Continue Reading
Compare DRAM vs. DRAM-less SSDs for cost, performance
Are DRAM-less SSDs the way of the future? While they're a great fit for hyperscale data centers, other organizations may also find benefits, such as cost.Continue Reading
storage virtualization
Storage virtualization is the pooling of physical storage from multiple storage devices into what appears to be a single storage device -- or pool of available storage capacity.Continue Reading
byte
In most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data that is eight binary digits long.Continue Reading
compact disc (CD)
A compact disc is a portable storage medium that can record, store and play back audio, video and other data in digital form.Continue Reading
brontobyte
A brontobyte is an unofficial measure of memory or data storage that is equal to 10 to the 27th power of bytes.Continue Reading
copy data management (CDM)
Copy data management (CDM) is an approach to reducing storage consumption that involves eliminating the unnecessary duplication of production data.Continue Reading
public cloud storage
Public cloud storage, also called online storage, is a service model that provides data storage on a pay-per-use basis.Continue Reading
How can users securely access Google Cloud Storage?
With security top of mind across IT, consider best practices for safe Google Cloud Storage access. Admins should be careful about assigning roles and permissions.Continue Reading
6 best practices for metadata storage and management
Metadata is crucial to getting the most out of data, so organizations should store it properly. Best practices include protection and understanding the IT architecture.Continue Reading
kilobyte (KB or Kbyte)
A kilobyte (KB or Kbyte) is a unit of measurement for computer memory or data storage.Continue Reading
hybrid cloud storage
Hybrid cloud storage is an approach to managing cloud storage that uses both local and off-site resources.Continue Reading
Understand SSD overheating and what to do about it
It's easy for an SSD to overheat, but there are several methods to cool it down. Keep cool, and avoid damage to the SSD's data retention and integrity.Continue Reading
cloud archive
A cloud archive is storage as a service for long-term data retention.Continue Reading
failover
Failover is a backup operational mode in which the functions of a system component are assumed by a secondary component when the primary becomes unavailable.Continue Reading
cloud storage provider
A cloud storage provider, sometimes referred to as a managed service provider, is a company that offers organizations and individuals the ability to place and retain data in an off-site storage system.Continue Reading
Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel is a high-speed networking technology primarily used for transmitting data among data centers, computer servers, switches and storage at data rates of up to 128 Gbps.Continue Reading
nearline storage
Nearline storage is the on-site storage of data on removable media.Continue Reading
Top data storage best practices include security, sustainability
Budgets are tight and risks are pervasive, so it's critical for admins to get the most out of storage. These tips touch on areas such as sensitive data storage and sustainability.Continue Reading
petabyte
A petabyte is a measure of memory or data storage capacity that is equal to 2 to the 50th power of bytes.Continue Reading
data compression
Data compression is a reduction in the number of bits needed to represent data.Continue Reading
data migration
Data migration is the process of transferring data between data storage systems, data formats or computer systems.Continue Reading
Kilo, mega, giga, tera, peta, exa, zetta and all that
Kilo, mega, giga, tera, peta, exa and zetta are among the binary prefixes used to denote the quantity of something, such as a byte or bit in computing and telecommunications.Continue Reading
SAN vs. NAS vs. DAS: Key differences and best use cases
Compare SAN, NAS and DAS and find out what to consider when using each type of storage system. Object storage and the cloud are additional available storage options.Continue Reading
distributed file system (DFS)
A distributed file system (DFS) is a file system that enables clients to access file storage from multiple hosts through a computer network as if the user was accessing local storage.Continue Reading