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Hard Disk Drives: Glossary of Computer Terminology

A

Access

Retrieval of data from or transfer of data into a storage device or area such as RAM or a register.

Access Time

The amount of time, including seek time, latency and controller time, needed for a storage device to retrieve information.

Active Partition

The partition of the drive that contains the operating system. If the drive has multiple partitions, only the primary partition can be made active. A hard drive can have only one active partition.

Active Termination

One or more voltage regulators that produce termination voltage. The voltage regulator(s) drive a constant voltage along the bus to ensure that the data signal stays constant and strong over the entire length of the bus. The result is increased data integrity and reliability.

Actuator

A mechanical assembly that positions the read/write head over the appropriate track.

Actuator Arm

The part of the actuator assembly that includes the positioning arm and the read/write heads.

Adaptive Caching

A feature of Western Digital drives that enables them to improve performance and throughput by adapting to the application being run.

Address

In the hard drive industry, there are several types of addresses; an address may refer to that of a drive, called a unit address; radial position, called a cylinder address; or circumferential position, referred to as a sector address.

AFR

Annualized Failure Rate.

Allocation

The method DOS uses to assign a specific area of the hard drive to a given file. (See also cluster.)

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

A governmental body of the United States responsible for approving US standards in many areas, including computers and communications. ANSI is a member of the International Standards Organization (ISO).

Arbitrated Loop

Fibre channel topology where two or more ports can interconnect but only two ports can communicate at the same time.

Arbitration

The act of determining which command, device, or communication protocol controls the operating environment.

Areal Density

The number of bits of data that can be recorded onto the surface of a disk or platter usually measured in square inches. The areal density is calculated by multiplying the bit density (BPI – Bits Per Inch) by the track density (TPI – Tracks Per Inch).

ASP

Average selling price.

Asynchronous Transmission

Each byte of information is synchronized individually through the use of request and acknowledge signals.

AT Bus Attachment (ATA-4)

The interface defined by IBM for the original AT disk controller. Western Digital designed the WD Caviar® drives to be fully ATA-4 compatible.

Auto Defect Retirement

If the drive finds defective sectors during reads or writes, they are automatically mapped out and relocated.

Auto Park

Turning off the drive power causes the drive to move the read/write heads to a safe non-data landing zone and lock them in place.

Average Access Time

The average length of time a drive takes to perform seeks, usually measured with 1/3 stroke.

Average Seek Time

Length of time it takes the drive to move the read/write heads to a safe non-data landing zone and lock them in place.

B

Bandwidth

The amount of data that can be sent over a given circuit. See also buffer bandwidth.

BIOS (Basic input/output system)

A program or set of programs that control the basic functions of the computer.

Bit

An abbreviation for a binary digit which can be either 0 or 1. A bit is the basic data unit of all digital computers. It is usually part of a data byte, or data word; however, a single bit can be used to control or read logic ON/OFF functions. A bit is a single digit in a binary number. Bits are the basic unit of information capacity on a computer storage device. Eight bits equal one byte.

Bit density

Expressed as bits per inch (BPI), the number of bits that can be written onto one inch of track on a disk surface.

Block

A group of bytes handled, stored, and accessed as a logical data unit, such as an individual file record. A block in UNIX workstation environments is the smallest contiguous area that can be allocated for the storage of data. (Note: A different definition of the term is used when referring to the physical configuration of a hard drive.)

Boot

To start or restart your computer; loading the operating system.

BPI

Bits per inch. Indicates the density of information on a hard drive. See bit density.

Buffer

A temporary data storage area used to make up for a difference in data transfer rates and/or data processing rates between sender and receiver. For example, a printer buffer copies data from the computer and holds it until the printer is ready to print it.

Buffer Bandwidth

The speed of transferring data to or from the buffer.

Build-to-order

In the computer industry, the assembly of a system in response to a customer’s order, rather than for inventory or mass shipment. A system utilized by Dell Computer and Gateway, now being emulated to some degree by other PC makers like IBM, HP and Compaq.

Business Model

A company’s financial plan, including product pricing and margin calculations.

Burst Mode Transfer Rate

The transfer rate into the buffer RAM of the hard disk. This rate does not factor in delays due to latencies or host delays. See also transfer rate.

Bus

The path that carries data between the computer (microprocessor) and peripheral devices. An IDE interface cable and a SCSI cable are both examples of a bus.

Byte

A sequence of eight binary digits or bits regarded to be a unit or binary word. The storage capacity of a disk drive is commonly measured in megabytes, which is the total number of storable bits divided by eight million.

C

Cable Select (CSEL)

An alternative option which can be used in place of setting Master/Slave jumpers in the designation of drives in a dual drive configuration. Master/Slave designation is based on the position of the drives relative to the cable. Special cabling is required by the system manufacturer to selectively ground the CSEL signal on one of the IDE cable connectors. For example, when one of the drives is connected to the grounded CSEL conductor, it configures itself as the Master. When the second drive is connected to the other connector, on which CSEL is not grounded, it becomes the slave. This eliminates the need for unique jumpering configurations between the Master and Slave drives.

Cache

High-speed RAM used as a buffer between the CPU and a hard drive. The cache retains recently accessed information to speed up subsequent accesses to the same data. When data is read from or written to disk, a copy is saved in the cache, along with the associated disk address. The cache monitors the addresses of subsequent read operations to see if the required data is already in the cache. If it is, the drive returns the data immediately. If it is not in the cache, then it is fetched from the disk and saved in the cache.

Capacity

The amount of information, measured in bytes, that can be stored on a hard drive. Also known as storage capacity.

Channel

A connection or socket on the motherboard or controller card. A motherboard may have one or two channels (primary and secondary). If your motherboard has only one channel, you may need to add a controller card to create a secondary channel.

Channel Assembly

In the computer industry, the final assembly of a system by a distributor or reseller from kits provided by the manufacturer and from components shipped directly to the assembler by subsystem makers.

Clean Room

An environmentally controlled, dust-free, assembly or repair facility in which hard drives are assembled or opened for internal servicing.

Cluster

A cluster is defined as an allocation unit. At least one cluster is allocated to each file, regardless of the file’s size, that is stored in the DOS environment. The cluster size increases with the partition size determined during formatting. With a 1024 MB partition, the cluster size is 32 KB. Each file stored consumes 32 KB of storage space, no matter how small the file. Create multiple, smaller partitions to avoid wasting space on small files. (This definition applies to FAT16).

CMOS Setup

A program supplied in most systems that allows you to configure internal and external devices.

Command Aging

A SCSI feature that prevents the command reordering algorithm from keeping I/O processes waiting in the command queue for extended periods of time.

Command Queuing

A feature that enables the drive to receive I/O processes from one or more initiators and execute them in an optimum sequence.

Command Reordering

A feature that allows the drive to reorder I/O processes in the command queue, which results in minimizing the seek time and rotational latency and thus increases throughput.

Controller

See disk controller, interface controller, and disk drive controller.

Controller Card

An adapter with the control electronics for one or more hard drives. Usually installed in a bus slot in the computer.

Correctable Error

An error that the drive can correct by using Error Detection and Correction schemes.

Customer Configuration Code (CCC)

A firmware revision tracking code that defines a major product change. This number increments as form, fit or function changes are implemented. The CCC code guarantees that the correct revision of drive product is provided to the customer.

Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)

Data stored or transmitted with data to detect corruption. By calculating the CRC data and comparing it to the original data sent, the receiver can detect some types of transmission errors.

Cylinder

The cylindrical surface formed by identical track numbers on vertically stacked disks.

Cylinder, Head, Sector (CHS) Addressing

A method of referencing the sectors on a drive as a collection of unique cylinder, head and sector addresses. Each block on the drive will have a unique cylinder, head and sector address.

D

Database

A collection of data stored on a computer system medium, such as a hard drive, CD-ROM, etc., that can be used for more than one purpose.

Data Lifeguard

A Western Digital exclusive data reliability feature that automatically detects, isolates and repairs problem areas on the hard drive before data loss can occur.

Data Synchronizer

An electronic circuit that uses a clock signal to synchronize data to facilitate interpretation.

Dedicated Landing Zone

The designated radial zone of the disk, usually at the inner portion of the disk, where the heads are stored to avoid contact with the data cylinders when power to the drive is off.

Defect Free

A term used to describe recording surfaces that have no detectable defects.

Defect Management

A general methodology of eliminating data errors on a recording surface by mapping out known defects on the media. The defective areas are rendered inaccessible, so that when information is written to the disk, it is stored to non-defective locations on the disk.

Desktop

A personal computer sized to fit on or under your desktop. Western Digital EIDE hard drives are designed to fit into a desktop PC.

Differential SCSI

An electrical signal configuration which uses pairs of lines for data transfer. Used primarily in applications requiring long cable lengths of up to 82 feet (25 meters).

Direct Memory Access (DMA)

A process for transferring data directly to and from main memory, without passing through the CPU. DMA improves speed and efficiency by allowing the system to continue CPU processing even while it is transferring data to/from the hard drive.

Disk

A rigid platter, usually constructed of aluminum or mylar, with a magnetic surface that allows the recording of data, that is stored inside the drive.

Disk Controller

The chip or circuit that controls the transfer of data between the disk and buffer. (See also disk drive controller and interface controller).

Disk Drive Controller

The hard disk drive controller electronics which include the disk controller and the interface controller. (See also disk controller and interface controller.)

Disk Operating System (DOS)

The computer program that controls the organization of data, files and processes on the computer.

Disk Transfer Rate

Speed at which data transfers to and from the disk media (actual disk platter); a function of the recording frequency. Typical units are bits per second (BPS), or bytes per second. Hard drives have an increasing range of disk transfer rates from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the disk.

Distribution Channel

Electronics distributors and certain retail chains that deliver electronic goods to end users through value-added resellers and some retail stores.

E

ECC On-the-Fly

A hardware correction technique that corrects errors in the read buffer prior to host transfer without any performance penalties. These error corrections are invisible to the host system because they do not require assistance from the drive’s firmware.

EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics)

The primary interface used by desktop PCs to handle communication between hard drives and the central processing unit. The equivalent interface system in most enterprise systems is SCSI.

Embedded Servo Control

The embedded servo control design generates accurate feedback information to the head position servo system without requiring a full data surface (which is required with a “dedicated” servo control method) because servo control data is stored on every surface.

Encoding

The process of modifying data patterns prior to writing them on the disk surface.

Enterprise

The series of computers employed largely in high-volume and multi-user environments such as servers or networking applications; may include single-user workstations required in demanding design, engineering and audio/visual applications.

Enterprise Storage Group

The Western Digital operation that designs, produces and markets hard drives for the enterprise market.

Error Correction Code (ECC)

A mathematical algorithm that detects and corrects errors in a data field.

Error Log

A record that contains error information.

Error Rate

The number of errors of a given type that occur when reading a specified number of bits.

Extended Partition

You can create multiple partitions on a hard disk, one primary partition and one or more extended partition(s). Operating system files must reside on the primary partition. An extended partition is a partition where non-system files (files other than DOS or operating system files) can be stored on a disk. You can also create logical drives on the extended partition.

F

FAT (File Allocation Table)

A data table stored at the beginning of each partition on the disk that is used by the operating system to determine which sectors are allocated to each file and in what order.

Fdisk

A software utility used to partition a hard drive. This utility is included with DOS and Windows 95 operating systems.

Fetch

The process of retrieving data.

Fibre Channel (FC)

The general name given to an integrated set of standards being developed by an ANSI-approved X3 group. This set of standards defines new protocols for flexible information transfer. Fibre channel supports three topologies: point-to-point, arbitrated loop, and fabric.

Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL)

A subset of fibre channel network systems interconnection. A serial storage interface designed to meet the needs of high-end applications.

Fiscal Periods

Three-month segments of a fiscal year. Western Digital, with a June 30 fiscal year, has fiscal quarters ending on the last days of September, December, March and June.

Firmware

Permanent instructions and data programmed directly into the circuitry of read-onlymemory for controlling the operation of the computer.

FIT (Functional Integrity Testing)

A suite of tests Western Digital performs on all its drive products to ensure compatibility with different hosts, operating systems, adapters, application programs, and peripherals. This testing must be performed before the product can be released to manufacturing.

Flow Control

In PIO transfers, the ability of an EIDE drive to control the speed at which the host transfers data to or from the drive by using the IORDY signal. The host temporarily stops transferring data whenever the drive deasserts the IORDY signal. When the drive reasserts the IORDY signal, the host continues the data transfer.

Format

A process that prepares a hard drive to store data. Low-level formatting sets up the locations of sectors so user data can be stored in them. Western Digital hard drives are low-level formatted at the factory and therefore do not need to be low-level formatted by the end user. You need to perform a high-level format (with EZ-Drive or the Format command) on your new Western Digital hard drive before you can use it. Formatting erases all the information on a hard drive and it sets up the file system needed for storing and retrieving files.

Formatted Capacity

The actual capacity available to store data in a mass storage device. The formatted capacity is the gross capacity minus the capacity taken up by the overhead data required for formatting the media.

Form Factor

The industry standard that defines the physical and external dimensions of a particular device.

Full-Duplex

A communication protocol that permits simultaneous transmission in both directions.

G

GB (Gigabyte)

Western Digital defines a gigabyte as 1,000,000,000 (one billion) bytes or 1000 (one thousand) Megabytes.

Giant MR (GMR)

An advanced form of magnetoresistive head technology in which IBM is believed to hold the greatest product advancements.

H

Half-Duplex

A communications protocol that permits transmission in both directions but in only one direction at a time.

Half-height Drives

Standard 3.5-inch hard drives are available in heights of 1.0-inch and 1.6-inches. Half-height drives measure 1.6-inches in height.

Hard Drive

An electromechanical device used for information storage and retrieval, incorporating one or more rotating disks on which data is recorded, stored and read magnetically. Western Digital’s principal product.

Hard Drive Industry

The combined manufacturers of hard drives. In the United States, the industry is led by IBM, Maxtor, Seagate, Quantum and Western Digital.

Hard Error

An error that is repeatable every time the same area on a disk is accessed.

Hard Sectored

A technique that uses a digital signal to indicate the beginning of a sector on a track.

Head

The minute electromagnetic coil and metal pole which write and read back magnetic patterns on the disk. Also known as a read/write head. A drive with several disk surfaces or platters will have a separate head for each data surface. See also MR Head.

Head Actuator

A motor that moves the head stack assembly in a hard drive to align read/write heads with magnetic tracks on the disks.

Head Crash

Refers to the damage incurred to a read/write head when the head comes into contact with the disk surface. A head crash might be caused by severe shock, dust, fingerprints, or smoke, and can cause damage to the surface of the disk and/or the head.

Head Disk Assembly (HDA)

The mechanical components of a hard drive, including the disks, heads, spindle motor and actuator.

Head Loading Zone

An area on the disk specifically reserved for the heads to use when taking off or landing when power to the drive is turned on or off. No data storage occurs in the head loading zone.

Head Stack Assembly

The electromechanical mechanism containing read/write heads and their supporting devices.

Headerless Format

The lack of a header or ID fields (track format). This enables greater format efficiency and increased user capacity.

High-end Market

The enterprise market.

High-Level Format

A high-level format must be performed (with EZ-Drive or the Format command) on your new Western Digital hard drive before you can use it. Formatting erases all the information on a hard drive and it sets up the file system needed for storing and retrieving files.

Host

The computer that other computers and peripherals connect to. See also initiator.

Host Adapter

A plug-in board that acts as the interface between a computer system bus and the disk drive.

Host Interface

The point at which the host and the drive are connected to each other.

Host Transfer Rate

Speed at which the host computer can transfer data across the SCSI interface; or, the speed at which the host computer can transfer data across the EIDE interface. Processor Input/Output (PIO) modes and Direct Memory Access (DMA) modes are defined in the ATA-4 industry specifications for the EIDE interface.

I

IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)

A type of drive where the interface controller electronics are incorporated into the design of the hard drive rather than as a separate controller.

Index Pulse Signal

A digital pulse signal indicating the beginning of a disk revolution. An embedded servo pattern or other prerecorded information is present on the disk following index.

Initiator

A device in control of the SCSI bus that sends commands to a target. Most SCSI devices have a fixed role as an initiator or a target; however, some devices can assume both roles.

Initialization

See low-level formatting.

Input

The incoming data that the computer processes, such as commands issued by the user.

Input/output (I/O)

An operation or device that allows input and output.

Interface

A hardware or software protocol that handles the exchange of data between the device and the computer; the most common ones are AT (also known as IDE) and SCSI. (See AT and SCSI.)

Interface controller

The chip or circuit that translates computer data and commands into a form suitable for use by the hard drive and controls the transfer of data between the buffer and the host. (See disk controller and disk drive controller.)

Interleave

The arrangement of sectors on a track.

Interrupt

A signal sent by a subsystem to the CPU that signifies a process has either completed or could not be completed.

ISA

Industry Standard Architecture. The standard 16-bit AT bus designed by IBM for the PC/AT system. ISA was the only industry standard bus for PCs until the recent release of MCA (MicroChannel Architecture), EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture), and PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect).

J

Jumper

In EIDE drives, a jumper is an electrically-conductive component that you place over pairs of pins that extend from the circuit board on the hard drive jumper block to connect them electronically. For example, a jumper is one way to designate a hard drive as master or slave. The jumper block is located next to the 40-pin connector on the hard drive.

Just-in-time (JIT)

A production and inventory control process in which components and materials are delivered to an assembly point as needed. This process is used in Western Digital manufacturing facilities and in most of the company’s customer plants.

K

Kilobyte (KB)

Usually, this is a unit of 1000 bytes. In the case of computer memory, which is partitioned into sizes that are a power of two, a kilobyte is equal to 2 10 or 1024 bytes.

L

Landing Zone

The heads move to this location on the inner portion of the disk when commanded, or when the power has been turned off. User data is not stored in this area of the disk.

Laser Textured Media

Laser textured disks minimize the wear and friction on a hard drive. The precision and consistency of the laser zone texturing process is a contributor to the robustness of our Western Digital hard drives.

Latency

The period of time that the read/write heads wait for the disk to rotate to the correct position to access the desired data. For a disk rotating at 5200 RPM, the average latency is 5.8 milliseconds; or, the average time delay between the head arriving on track and the data rotating to the head. (Calculated as one-half the revolution period.)

Local Area Network (LAN)

A system in which computer users in the same company or organization are linked to each other and often to centrally-stored collections of data in LAN servers.

Logical Address

A storage location address that may not describe the physical location; instead, it used as a means to request information from a controller. The controller converts the request from a logical to a physical address that is able to retrieve the data from an actual physical location on the storage device.

LBA (Logical Block Addressing)

A method of addressing the sectors on a drive. Addresses the sectors on the drive as a single group of logical block numbers instead of cylinder, head and sector addresses. It allows for accessing larger drives than is normally possible with CHS addressing.

Logical Drive

A logical drive is a section of the hard disk that appears to be a separate drive in a directory structure. You create logical drives on the extended partition of a hard disk. While 26 letters exist for logical drives, the first three are reserved. A and B are reserved for floppy disk drives, and C is reserved for the first primary DOS partition. Therefore, you can create up to 23 logical drives on your extended partition. Logical drives are usually used to group directories and files.

Logistics Model

The systems by which a company organizes the physical distribution of its products. A hard drive manufacturer’s model might include portions to OEM customers, to distributors, to retail chains or to all of these.

Low-level formatting

The process of creating sectors on the disk surface; this permits the operating system to use the regions needed to create the file structure. Also called initialization. Low-level formatting is performed at the Western Digital factory. There is no need for you to low-level format a Western Digital drive.

Low profile (LP)

Standard 3.5-inch hard drives are available in heights of 1.0-inch and 1.6-inches. Low-profile hard drives measure 1.0-inches in height.

M

Magnetic flux

The pattern of magnetic pole directions of the bits written on the disk.

Manufacturing Yield

The portion of unit production of a manufacturing process that is usable, saleable product; usually expressed as a percent of total output of that product.

Master

The first drive in a dual drive combination. A master drive by itself (with no slave) is called a single drive.

Media

In hard drives, the disks and their magnetic coatings; sometimes refers to the coating material alone.

MB (Megabyte)

Western Digital defines a megabyte as 1,000,000 (one million) bytes.

Mechanical Latencies

Include both seek time and rotational latency. Mechanical latencies are the main hindrance to higher performance in hard drives. The time delays of mechanical latencies are one hundred times higher than electronic (non-mechanical) latencies associated with the transferring of data. See also Seek Time, Rotational Latency.

Memory

A device or storage system capable of storing and retrieving data.

MFM (Multiple Frequency Modulation)

A method of encoding analog signals into magnetic pulses or bits.

MR Heads (Magneto-resistive Heads)

MR heads were developed to increase areal density and improve drive performance. MR heads use separate read and write elements, as opposed to traditional inductive thin-film read-write heads. MR heads use an inductive element for writing data, and a separate magneto-resistive element for reading information. The read element has a magnetically sensitive material that detects data recorded on the magnetic disk surface. MR head construction results in a stronger signal than that produced by inductive thin-film read-write heads, which permits it to read higher areal density data. Since the magneto-resistive element can only read data, a conventional thin-film inductive element writes data to the disk.

MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)

Average time (expressed in hours) that a component works without failure. It is calculated by dividing the total number of operating hours observed by the total number of failures. Also, the length of time a user may reasonably expect a device or system to work before an incapacitating fault occurs.

MTTR (Mean Time to Repair)

The average time it takes to repair a drive in the field. In the field, only major subassemblies are changed (the PCB, sealed housing, etc.), excluding component level repairs as these are not performed in the field.

Multi-media

A simultaneous presentation of data in more than one form, such as by means of both visual and audio.

Multi-user

In information technology, a system that enables more than one user to access data at the same time.

N

Network Computer

A kind of computer that contains limited data storage capacity and is used to communicate with a central data storage facility such as a server or RAID system.

O

Operating System

Software that allows the user and programs installed on your system to communicate with computer hardware such as a hard drive.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

In the case of Western Digital, OEM customers are companies such as Compaq, Gateway, IBM and Dell.

OEM content

The portion of a company’s output sold to OEM customers, expressed as a percent of total production.

P

Partition

A way to logically divide a hard drive so that an operating system treats each partition as a separate hard drive. Each partition has a unique drive letter.

Passive Termination

A termination architecture that is used to match the impedance at the end of the SCSI bus by using a voltage divider network of passive resistors.

PC

Personal computer.

Personal Storage Division

The Western Digital organization responsible for design, production and sale of hard drives for personal computers.

Platform

A basic design from which a series of products is engineered and produced. Western Digital’s new, 4.3 GB-per-platter platform, for example, is the basis for five products ranging in capacity from 4.3 to 13.0 gigabytes.

Platter

An actual metal (or other rigid material) disk that is mounted inside a fixed-disk drive. Many drives consist of multiple platters mounted on the spindle to provide more data storage surfaces. Each platter may use one or both surfaces to store data.

Port

A connection or socket on the motherboard or controller card. A motherboard may have one or two ports (primary and secondary). If your motherboard has only one port, you may need to add a controller card to create a secondary port.

Pre-fetch

Instructions that are loaded into a queue when the processor’s external bus is otherwise idle.

Primary Partition

The partition where the operating system files are stored. To start your operating system from a hard disk, it must have a primary partition. You must also make the primary partition active.

Product Road Map

A company’s plan for the introduction of new products.

Protocol

A convention of data transmission that defines timing, control format, and data representation.

PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood)

A read channel using sampled data, active equalization and Veterbi detection to accurately retrieve the user data off the disk.

Programmed I/O

In a disk drive with an AT interface, data transfers between the drive and host using programmed I/O (PIO). The host uses PIO to write to the Command Block Registers (CBRs) when transmitting control information, such as the location of a read command.

Proximity Recording

A recording technology that increases recording density by allowing the read/write head to come in close proximity to the disk surface.

Q

Qualification

The process by which sample components are tested for their compatibility and utility as parts of a system. Western Digital OEM customers qualify WD hard drives for use in their computers.

Queue

A first-in-first-out (FIFO) data structure used to sequence multiple demands for a resource such as a printer, processor, or communications channel. The host adds objects to the end of the queue and takes them off the front.

R

Radial Path

The straight-line path from the center of the disk to the outer edge of the disk.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Memory that allows any storage location to be accessed randomly, as opposed to tape drives, which are sequential access devices.

Read Channel

Performs the data encoding and conversions the drive needs to write computer generated information onto a magnetic medium and then read that information back with a high degree of accuracy.

Read Verify

A data accuracy check performed by having the disk read data to the controller, which in turn checks for errors but does not pass the data on to the system.

Read/Write Head

See Head.

Recoverable Error

A read error that the drive can correct by ECC recovery or by re-reading the data.

Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks (RAID)

Groupings of hard drives in a single system to provide greater performance and data integrity.

R & D

Research and development.

RLL (Run Length Limited)

An encoding scheme used during write operations to facilitate data readback. ROM (Read Only Memory)

Integrated circuit memory chip containing programs and data that the computer or host can read but cannot modify. The computer can read instructions out of ROM, but cannot store data in ROM.

Rotational Latency

The amount of delay in obtaining information from a disk due to the rotation of the disk. For a disk rotating at 5200 RPM, the average rotational latency is 5.8 milliseconds. See also Mechanical Latency.

RPM (Revolutions per Minute)

Rotational speed of the media (disk), also known as the spindle speed. Hard drives typically spin at one constant speed. The slower the RPM, the higher the mechanical latencies. Disk RPM is a critical component of hard drive performance because it directly impacts the rotational latency.

S

SCA-2

SCA-2 (Single Connector Attach) interface incorporates a grounding contact, blindmate connector, direct plug misalignment tolerance, ESD protection, hot swap capability, and backplane connector options for SCSI devices. SCA-2 is commonly called the 80-pin SCSI connector.

Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

An interface between a computer and peripheral controllers. Commonly used in enterprise computing and in Apple Macintosh systems. Usually pronounced as “scuzzy.” The equivalent interface system in most personal computers is Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics, usually called EIDE.

SCSI Configure Automatically (SCAM)

Allows users to attach SCSI devices without worrying about configuration options.

SCSI-1

The Small Computer System Interface (ANSI document X3.131-1986).

SCSI-2

The Small Computer System Interface (ANSI document X3.131-1994).

SCSI-3

The ANSI X3T10 Working Documents (under development).

SCSI device

A host computer adapter, a peripheral controller, or an intelligent peripheral that can be attached to a SCSI bus.

Sector

A 512-byte packet of data in EIDE and SCSI hard drives. This is the smallest amount of data that can be read or written to the drive from the host interface. On Macintosh and Unix drives, sectors are usually grouped into blocks or logical blocks that function as the smallest data unit permitted. Since these blocks are often defined as a single sector, the terms block and sector are sometimes used interchangeably in this context. (Note: The meaning of the term block in connection with the physical configuration of the disk is different from its meaning at the system level. (See also block and cluster.)

Sector Slipping

A technique used to push-down defective sector sites during a format or reassignment operation to maintain sequential order of the data. Spares are located throughout the disk for this purpose.

Seek

The movement of a set of read/write heads to a desired location. The actuator moves the heads to the cylinder containing the track and sector where the data is stored.

Seek Time

A measure (in milliseconds) of how fast the hard drive can move its read/write heads to a desired location.

Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.)

A technology to assist the user in preventing possible system down time due to hard drive failure by attempting to predict imminent hard drive failure before it occurs.

Sequential Access

The reading or writing of data in a sequential order as opposed to random access. Magnetic tape drives store data in sequential blocks.

Serial Storage Architecture (SAA)

The general name given to a set of standards being developed by an ANSI-approved X3 group. The set of standards defines a new serial interface that provides a flexible addressing scheme.

Server

A computer used primarily to store data, providing access to shared resources. Usually contains a network operating system.

Servo Burst

Provides positioning information to the actuator arm, found at equal intervals on each disk surface (embedded servo) or on an entire surface (dedicated servo).

Single-ended SCSI

The standard electrical interface for SCSI. Single-ended means an interface with one signal and one corresponding ground line for each SCSI signal. Used primarily in applications requiring cable lengths under 19 feet (6 meters).

Slave

The second drive in a dual drive combination.

Soft Error

An error that does not repeat when the same location is re-read.

Soft Sectored

A technique that allows the controller to determine the beginning of a sector by reading the format information from the disk.

SPC

SCSI Primary Commands.

Spindle

The center, rod-like axle on which the disks are mounted.

Spindle Motor

The motor that rotates the spindle and ultimately the disks.

Spindle Speed

See RPM.

Spindle Synchronization

A feature that causes SCSI hard drives in multiple-drive systems to rotate to the same address location at the same time.

Spreadsheet

The display of data in a form suitable for comparisons, as is used in accounting and other applications; also, computer programs for these uses.

Storage Capacity

The amount of data that can be stored on a hard drive.

Sub-1000 PC

The series of personal computers being designed for sale at prices at or below $1,000 each.

Subsystem

A secondary or component part of a system, as a hard drive is a subsystem of a personal computer.

Surface

The top or the bottom side of a platter coated with a magnetic material required to record data. A platter may use one or both surfaces to store data.

Synchronous Transmission

Transmission in which the sending and receiving devices operate continuously at the same frequency and are held in a desired phase relationship by a correction device.

System Files

The files needed to run an operating system.

System Integrator

An independent professional who specifies and provides the necessary combinations of hardware and software in response to an end user’s needs.

T

Tagged Queuing

The ability of the drive to receive multiple I/O processes from each initiator.

Task File

The set of I/O Host Interface Registers used to transfer status, commands, and data between the host and the drive for the EIDE interface.

Thin Client Architecture

A computer system in which data is stored centrally, with only limited storage capacity at the various points of use.

Thin Film

A type of coating deposited on a flat surface through a photolithographic process. Thin film is used on disk platters and read/write heads, as well as on the write element of MR heads.

Thin-Film Inductive Head (TFI)

A head technology that uses a thin-film inductive element to read and write data bits on the magnetic surface of the disk.

Time-to-Capacity

Getting to market first with the next highest capacity hard drive.

Time-to-Market

The time it takes to bring a product from concept to market. Generally first-to-market is the desired time-to-market goal.

Time-to-Quality

The time required to bring a new product to market with the best possible level of quality and reliability.

Time-to-Volume

The time required to begin producing a new product in sufficiently high volume to fill commercial requirements.

TPI (Tracks per inch)

The number of tracks written within each inch of the disk’s surfaces, used to measure how closely the tracks are packed on a disk surface. Also known as track density.

Track

A concentric magnetic circle pattern on a disk surface used for storing and reading data.

Track-to-track Seek Time

The time that elapses when the read/write heads move from one track to an adjacent track.

Transfer Rate

The rate at which the hard drive sends and receives data from the controller. Processing, head switches, and seeks are all figured into the transfer rate in order to accurately portray drive performance. The burst mode transfer rate is separate from transfer rate, as it refers only to the transfer of data into RAM.

Translating BIOS

A system BIOS that allows access to EIDE drives larger than 528 MB.

U

Ultra SCSI

Provides 20 MB/s transfers over an 8-bit bus or 40 MB/s transfers over a 16-bit Wide SCSI bus. Also known as Fast-20 SCSI, this feature is most commonly found in SCSI-3 drives.

Ultra DMA/33

A high-speed host data transfer feature that transfers data at 33.3 MB per second.

Un-correctable Error

An error that cannot be overcome using Error Detection and Correction.

Unformatted Capacity

The total number of usable bytes on a disk, including the space that is required to record location, boundary definitions, and servo data. (See also formatted capacity.)

Unrecoverable Error

A read error that cannot be overcome by an ECC scheme or by rereading the data when host retries are enabled.

Untagged Queuing

The ability of the drive to receive a maximum of one I/O process from each initiator.

Upgrade

In hard drives, the replacement of a hard drive with one offering greatercapacity or performance, or both.

V

Value-added Reseller (VAR)

Often referred to as a “Var” or “Reseller.” The independent professionals who market computer systems and components and who add value by performing assembly, upgrades, training and other services.

Viterbi Detection

An algorithm used in read channel technology that detects an entire sequence of data bits at a time and determines the most likely sequence of data bits by comparing actual sequence of data bit samples with sequences of possible data bit sample to accurately detect that data written to disk.

Voice Coil

An actuator motor; the force of the magnetic rotary voice coil produces a movement of the head that is proportionate to the force exerted by the coil.

W

WD Caviar®

The trade name for Western Digital’s line of hard drives for desktop personal computers.

WD Enterprise

The trade name for Western Digital’s line of enterprise hard drives.

Winchester Disk

Former code name for an early IBM hard disk model, sometimes still used to refer to the technology and design of most traditional hard drives.

Windows

Microsoft’s series of operating systems for personal computers. Currently popular versions are Windows 95 and Windows 98.

Word

Two bytes that are processed together in a single operation.

Workstation

A personal computer with exceptional capacity and performance capabilities for use mainly in engineering, design and audiovisual applications demanding immediate access to data and the ability to manipulate it in technically sophisticated ways.

Write

The recording of flux reversals onto the magnetic surface of a disk.

Write Cache

High speed RAM used to buffer data transfer from the host to the hard drive.

Write Verify

Immediately after writing data to the disk, a drive with the Write Verify feature will verify that it can read the data it just wrote to the disk to ensure that it will be able to retrieve it later. If the drive is unable to read the data, it writes it to another area of the disk, where it attempts to write verify it again.

Y

Year 2000 Problem, or Y2K

The risk that computers will be disabled or perform incorrectly if they read the two-digit abbreviation “00” to mean the year 1900 instead of the year 2000, as intended. The problem is said to have originated when early computer programmers abbreviated year dates to save storage space that was scarce and costly at the time. Western Digital hard drives are designed to be “Year 2000-compliant,” and the company’ suppliers are required to demonstrate that their WD-linked communications and products are compliant as well.

Z

Zoned Recording

Increases the number of sectors on the outer tracks of the drive since the circumference of the outside tracks is greater. This type of recording affords more disk capacity because there can be more sectors on the larger outer tracks than would be possible if the number of sectors per track were constant for the whole drive.

Bill Margeson
CEO and Founder
CBL Data Recovery Services
Toll Free: 1.800.551.3917
www.cbldatarecovery.com