System Storage- The OS

System Storage- The OS

System Storage

• Provides a space for storing data and software in a computer system.
• The three primary types of storage are primary, secondary, and tertiary storage.
• Primary storage includes RAM (Random Access Memory) and cache memory, which are extremely fast but volatile (storage is lost when power is lost).
• Secondary storage is non-volatile (data is retained even when power is lost), includes hard disk drives (HDD), solid state drives (SSD), flash memory sticks, and is used for permanent data and program storage.
• Tertiary storage, or off-line storage like tape drives, is typically used for archiving data and can hold large quantities of information.

The Operating System (OS)

• The core software that allows hardware and software to communicate.
• Plays a key role in managing system resources such as the CPU, memory, and devices.
• It controls input and output functions, manages files and directories, and provides a user interface.
• Examples of popular operating systems include Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Unix.
• The GUI (Graphical User Interface) allows users to interact with the system using visuals like icons and windows.
• The OS also manages security, ensuring that unauthorized users cannot access the system.
• Multitasking, a feature in modern operating systems, allows multiple applications to run simultaneously.

File Systems

• A method of organising and retrieving files from a storage medium, like a hard drive.
• Implemented by the operating system, file systems can be of types like FAT (File Allocation Table), NTFS (New Technology File System), or HFS (Hierarchical File System).
• A file system organises the files into a database for the storage, organisation, manipulation, and retrieval by the operating system.
• It’s also responsible for disk space management, file naming, directories/folder organisation, and metadata attribution (such as creation and modification dates, file ownership, and permissions).