Glossary
E
ECC – Acronym for error correction code. The recording of extra verifying information encoded along with the disk data. The controller uses the extra information to check for data errors, and corrects the errors when possible.
EMBEDDED SERVO – A timing or location signal placed on the disk’s surface on the tracks that also store data. These signals allow the actuator to
ENCODING – The protocol by which particular data patterns are changed prior to being written on the disk surface as a pattern of On and Off or 1 and 0 signals.
EXTERNAL DRIVE – A drive mounted in an enclosure separate from the PC or computer system enclosure, with its own power supply and fan, and connected to the system by a cable.
F
FAT – Acronym for file allocation table. A data table stored on the outer edge of a disk that tells the operating system which sectors are allocated to each file and in what order.
FCI – Acronym for flux changes per inch. See also BPI.
FILE SERVER – A computer that provides network stations with controlled access to shareable resources. The network operating system is loaded on the file server, and most shareable devices (disk subsystems, printers) are attached to it. The file server controls system security and monitors
FLUX DENSITY – The number of magnetic field patterns that can be stored in a given length of disk surface. The number is usually stated as flux changes per inch (FCI), with typical values in the thousands.
FLYING HEIGHT – The distance between the read/write head and the disk surface caused by a cushion of air that keeps the head from contacting the media. Smaller flying heights permit more dense storage of data, but require more precise mechanical designs.
FORMAT – To write onto the disk surface a magnetic track pattern that specifies the locations of the tracks and sectors. This information must exist on a disk before it can store any user data. Formatting erases any previously stored data.
FORMATTED CAPACITY – The amount of room left to store data on the disk after the required space has been used to write sector headers, boundary definitions, and timing information generated by a format operation. All Maxtor drive capacities are expressed in formatted capacity.
FORM FACTOR – The physical outer dimensions of a device as defined by industry standard. For example, most Maxtor disk drives use a 3
G
GIGABYTE (GB) – One billion bytes (one thousand megabytes).
GUIDE RAILS – Plastic strips attached to the sides of a disk drive mounted in an IBM AT and compatible computers so that the drive easily slides into place.
H
HALF HEIGHT – Term used to describe a drive that occupies half the vertical space of the original full size 5
HARD DISK – A type of storage medium
Maxtor QuickView 400/500GB Serial ATA Hard Disk Drive |