In a data center, the difference between storage and memory is that storage refers to long-term data retention on hard drives or solid-state drives, where data is saved permanently, while memory refers to the temporary data area that provides fast access so processors can access data while performing other processes, even though this data is lost when the system is powered down. Essentially, storage is for archiving data while memory is for data that is actively being used.
The Difference Between Storage and Memory: Temporary vs Permanent
Memory is where data goes temporarily and storage is where it is saved permanently. Memory is for short-term data storage and storage is for long-term data storage. The main difference between these is volatility. Volatile solutions mean that the data can be lost if the system powers down. Nonvolatile solutions mean that the data is permanent. Translation, the big difference is what happens if the system turns off.
Some refer to these as main and secondary storage. Main storage or memory, is where data is held that the processors need to access. It is easier to call this data forward so that the data center can use it. Secondary storage is where permanent data goes. Newly acquired data goes into memory. Files get copied from memory to storage drives. If a system is low on memory space, the processors have to pull data from storage drives to use it. It is storage if it:
- Has long-term data retention
- Takes longer to access
- Is used for files, applications, or backups
It is memory if it:
- Offers short-term data storage for active programs
- Has very fast access speeds
- It is volatile
Data center storage solutions include hard drives, SSDs, and external storage. Memory solutions in IT include RAM on processors.
The noticeable difference between memory and storage is the speed at which data centers operate. Those with more memory operate at faster speeds than those that prioritize storage because memory does not rely on using physical components like hard drives.
Memory vs Storage Requirements
While RAM provides quicker access to data in use, storage solutions allow data to be stored for the long term. Having more memory allows for centers to hold more data in an easily accessible space, which makes data transfers faster. That means that it can perform more transfers simultaneously without slowing down performance or crashing the system. By adding more memory to an existing system, you will notice faster speeds. However, upgrading storage is a better solution if you have the space for it and have acceptable speeds.
There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing memory over storage. Systems with more memory capacities offer faster data transfer speeds, are often more environmentally friendly, generate less heat, and are less likely to overdraw power and shut down. On the other hand, those with more storage can cost less to construct and operate. Therefore, the choice to increase memory or storage should be based on the specific needs of the data center.
Cloud vs Physical Data Centers
Physical data centers are limited to the storage capacity that they have in place within the facility. Increasing capacity means purchasing more hardware and staff to operate it. A small facility with one data hall can typically hold about 1 petabyte of storage.
A mid-sized facility has between 3 and 10 halls, each holding around 1 petabyte. Enterprise data centers are the most popular. They are built, owned, and operated by the companies that use them, which allows for customization for the end users. There are also managed service and colocation data centers.
Physical data centers can also use SSD as memory by reorganizing their structure, and some are set up that way. While this can provide more memory space, it also slows the center down.
One other type of data center includes cloud data centers. Cloud storage is also becoming more popular for small enterprises because they are more scalable since they operate on virtual servers.
Cloud data centers are managed by third parties in off-site locations. They allow users to access information through the internet from any location, completely freeing the network from physical restrictions. Some of the most well-known cloud data centers include Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.
Physical Storage and Memory Solutions
There are multiple devices that data centers require. SSDs and hard disks are two of the most common physical storage solutions. Hard disks are used to store data permanently because they are non-volatile. SSDs are also devices used within computer processors in data centers. These are considered storage because they are non-volatile. SSDs have replaced hard drives. Processors must work alongside these items to ensure that data transfers are complete.
Typically, data centers use hard drives and SSDs to store data in blocks, which provides a petabyte of storage per hall. These blocks are organized into units with several internal drives known as storage area networks. There are also other storage configurations available.
There are multiple types of memory within IT solutions. RAM is volatile. It is a short-term holding cell for data. Therefore, while a lot of it makes a system run quickly, it cannot be used for long-term storage. Unfortunately, RAM tends to be the most expensive thing to add to a data center. There is also ROM and cache. Cache memory is a way to make systems faster. Meanwhile, ROM is nonvolatile but helps when turning on systems.
The drawback to having multiple memory solutions is that for the most part, they cannot be left alone. They need to be backed up constantly if they have critical information that is not in storage. Since they are almost entirely volatile, they will delete if the system is powered down.
Understand the Difference Between Storage and Memory to Get the Right Parts
Understanding the difference between storage and memory is key to effectively building and managing network infrastructure. Our team at Equal Optics can help you design a system that meets your business’ storage and memory needs. Contact us to learn about customized storage solutions.
