What is typical storage hierarchy, Computer Engineering

Assignment Help:

Q. What is typical storage hierarchy?

A typical storage hierarchy is displayed in Figure above. Though Figure shows only block diagram however it includes storage hierarchy:   

Register

Cache memory

Main memory

Secondary Storage and 

Mass Storage. 

As we move up hierarchy we encounter storage elements which have faster access time and higher cost per bit stored as well as slower access time as a result of moving down hierarchy. So cache memory normally has the fastest access time and the smallest storage capacity as well as the highest cost per bit stored. Primary memory (main memory) falls next in storage hierarchy list. On-line, direct-access secondary storage devices like magnetic hard disks make up level of hierarchy just below main memory. Off-line, direct-access and sequential access secondary storage devices like magnetic tape, ZIP disk, Floppy disk and WORM disk etc. fall next in storage hierarchy. Mass storage devices generally referred to as archival storage are at the bottom of storage hierarchy. They are cost-effective for storage of very large quantities of data when fast access time is not essential.

Please note two significant points here: 

  • Size of memory increases as we move down hierarchy.
  • Quantum of data which is transferred between two consecutive memory layers at a time also increases as we go from a higher to lower side. For illustration from main memory to Cache transfer one or a few memory words are accessed at a time while in a hard disk to main memory transfer, a block of about 1 Megabyte is transferred in a single access.

 


Related Discussions:- What is typical storage hierarchy

Demux., Implement the full substractor using 8:1demux

Implement the full substractor using 8:1demux

Explain the storage class static, Explain the Storage Class Static Th...

Explain the Storage Class Static The Storage Class Static : Static declarations have two important and distinct uses. The more elementary use is to allow a local variable to

Color scheme in a repeater control, How can you provide an alternating colo...

How can you provide an alternating color scheme in a Repeater control?  AlternatingItemTemplate Like the ItemTemplate element, but rendered for every otherrow (alternating item

Digital electronics, Draw a circuit of an NMOS inverter and explain its ope...

Draw a circuit of an NMOS inverter and explain its operation

Name of all sap databases, All SAP Databases are Relational Databases ...

All SAP Databases are Relational Databases is the all sap databases.

Define wide area network, Q. Define Wide Area Network? Wide Area Networ...

Q. Define Wide Area Network? Wide Area Network (WAN): It takes a large geographical area and frequently owned by a state. Data transfer rate is low (few KBPS to 10 MBPS) and er

What kind of system do we need to run gimp, Any system able of run Gnome 2,...

Any system able of run Gnome 2, KDE 3.2, Windows 2000, Mac OS X and later versions should be capable to run GIMP. GIMP's biggest appetite is for memory and how much you will requir

Determine maximum possible time of 4-bit synchronous counter, A 4-bit synch...

A 4-bit synchronous counter uses flip-flops with propagation delay times of 15 ns each.  The maximum possible time required for change of state will be ? Ans. 15 ns since in sy

Number conversion, (a) Convert the following number to single precision IEE...

(a) Convert the following number to single precision IEEE 754 based on the procedure described in class and in the notes. Express the result in hexadecimal. Show all your work.

Leading zeroes of a number field, In order to suppress the leading zeroes o...

In order to suppress the leading zeroes of a number field the which keywords is used ? NO-ZERO.

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd