Intro to Computer Storage by TechKnowSurge

Exploring Computer Storage, How Bits Are Saved, and How the OS Manages Storage

What you'll learn
- Describe computer storages media, characteristics, form factors, protocols, and interfaces
- List examples and characteristics of removable media, hard disk drives, and solid state drives
- Describe how computers store and read bits from paper, magnetic media, optical media, and solid-state drives
- Describe the operating systems role in preparing, reading, writing, representing, maintaining, and protecting data and data storage devices
- Describe the reason for defragmenting a hard disk drive
- List file system types
- Describe journaling, partitions, drives, volumes, directories, folders and other storage terms
- Define metadata, attributes, and compression as it applies to files
- Explain how computers use extensions to associate files with programs
- Describes ways in which we can keep data safe
- Describe RAID levels and how they work
- Describes ways in which we make data more accessible
- Explain what a file server, network-attached storage (NAS), cloud storage, and databases are

Requirements
- NO prerequisites

Description
This course will explore computer storage, covering the full spectrum of storage media, including characteristics, form factors, protocols, and interfaces. Students will learn about removable media, hard disk drives, and solid-state drives, understanding how computers store and access data across different media types such as magnetic, optical, and solid-state. The course delves into the operating system’s role in data management—covering reading, writing, formatting, and protecting data—while explaining the significance of processes like defragmentation. Key concepts such as file systems, RAID levels, metadata, file attributes, compression, and data safety will be explored, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of how to manage and safeguard data effectively.

Key components of the course include:

Describe computer storages media, characteristics, form factors, protocols, and interfaces

List examples and characteristics of removable media, hard disk drives, and solid state drives

Describe how computers store and read bits from paper, magnetic media, optical media, and solid-state drives

Describe the operating systems role in preparing, reading, writing, representing, maintaining, and protecting data and data storage devices

Describe the reason for defragmenting a hard disk drive

List file system types

Describe journaling, partitions, drives, volumes, directories, folders and other storage terms

Define metadata, attributes, and compression as it applies to files

Explain how computers use extensions to associate files with programs

Describes ways in which we can keep data safe

Describe RAID levels and how they work

Describes ways in which we make data more accessible

Explain what a file server, network-attached storage (NAS), cloud storage, and databases are

Understanding Data Storage

How we store data

How data is managed

How we maintain safety and accessibility of our data

Learn it Right, Learn it Well, and Reap the Rewards

Spending the time now to fully understand what an operating system is and how it functions can lead to efficiency in studying future topics

Who Should Take this Course:

Anyone wanting to get into a career in IT

Why take the course from me?

Experience: I’ve been in the IT world since 2000, have a masters in computers, and over 20 industry standard certifications

Know how to Teach: I was trained as an instructor by the USAF, have a bachelors in education, teaching since 1997, and well over 6,000 hours of classroom instruction time.

I’ve been a hiring manager since 2010, I know what skill sets employers are looking for.

TechKnowSurge’s Unique Approach

Your instructor has training and years of experience as an educator, as a technician, and as a leader. The course implements the following features:

Microstep lectures and segmented videosthat meters learning into bite size chunks. It also makes it easy to go back and review concepts when needed.

Staged-Based Educational Modelwhere information is covered multiple times in increasing amounts of complexity. The approach helps reinforce learning and creates a knowledge and skill set less likely to fade with time.

Extensive coverage of topicsto make sure topics are explained fully

Well-organized content. A tremendous amount of effort has been placed on what order content should be delivered to maximize learning and minimizing confusion.

A focus onpedagogy. A funny name, but your instructor has a deep understanding of educational theory and what drives learning.

Module overviewsexplaining what to expect for each module and sets a mindset for why the information is important to learn.

Video intros, overviews, and summariesto explain the intention of each video, reinforce learning, and prepare you for success.

High quality and engaging videosthat use graphics, great explanations, and analogies to explain complex topics in an easy to understand way.

Real world application. Step beyond just the theory. Your instructor has real world experience and will share that with you throughout the course.

Employer insight, know what employers are looking for. Your instructor runs IT Departments and hires individuals just like you.

This well organized course will has the following modules:

Welcome and Getting Started:Prepare yourself for efficiently and successfully completing the course. You’ll get an overview of what the course is all about and what you should expect out of it.

Storage Devices:This module introduces the fundamental types of computer storage media, focusing on their characteristics, form factors, protocols, and interfaces. Students will explore various examples, including removable media, traditional hard disk drives, and modern solid-state drives.

Storage Media:This module explores the diverse methods computers use to store and access digital information across different media. Students will examine traditional and modern storage techniques, from the punched patterns on paper to magnetic encoding in hard drives, optical reflections in CDs and DVDs, and electrical states in solid-state drives. The module provides a foundational understanding of how each storage medium reads and writes bits, highlighting the strengths and unique properties of each technology.

Using Storage Devices:This module covers the critical functions of an operating system in managing data and storage devices. Students will learn how operating systems prepare, read, write, and protect data, ensuring efficient storage management. Key topics include the purpose and process of defragmenting hard drives, various file system types, and essential storage concepts such as journaling, partitions, drives, volumes, directories, and folders.

Files and File Attributes:This module explores how computers manage and interpret file data through metadata, attributes, and compression. Students will gain insight into how metadata provides information about files, how attributes determine file behaviors, and how compression reduces file size for storage efficiency. Additionally, the module explains how file extensions are used by operating systems to associate files with the correct applications, enabling seamless user interaction with data. This module lays the groundwork for understanding how files are organized, accessed, and managed in modern computing environments.

Keeping Data Safe:This module focuses on techniques for safeguarding data and ensuring storage reliability. Students will learn about best practices for data protection, including backup strategies and encryption. The module also covers RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) levels, explaining how different configurations work to enhance data safety, redundancy, and performance. By the end of this module, students will understand methods to implement secure and reliable storage solutions that minimize data loss and maximize availability.

Accessing Data:This module introduces key storage solutions used for managing and accessing data. Students will learn about file servers, network-attached storage (NAS), cloud storage, and databases, focusing on their functions, differences, and typical use cases. The module provides a basic understanding of how each solution stores, organizes, and makes data available to users and systems.

Wrap Up:Time to wrap up the course and provide any final thoughts.

Instructor Bio

TechKnowSurge (Andrew Grimes) has been in the tech industry since 2000 and even longer as an Instructor. He started out as a Survival Instructor for the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1997. When he got out of the military, he started teaching computer classes. Wanting to advance his technical skills, he became a contractor working on a wide range of technologies while teaching technology college courses in the evening. Overtime, he became a hiring manager, director, and leader

His background includes:

Building a security program within 2 years to include becoming SOC 2 Type 2 compliant

Leading and maximizing efficiency of IT, Security, and DevOps teams

Managing SaaS company infrastructure with millions of active users

Managing small, medium, and large IT Infrastructures

Migrating technologies to the cloud

Managing multi-million dollar budgets and reducing overall budget spend year over year

Utilizing various project management techniques such as waterfall, scrum and Kanban to maximize efficiency and success

Bachelors in Workforce Education

Masters in Computer Resource and Information Management

Over 6,000 hours of teaching experience

Over 20 industry standard certifications.

Past student reviews:

“Andrew is absolutely the best instructor I've had throughout the course of my education. He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to all things network and IT-related. Because of the education he provided, I am now working in the network engineering field, and I could not have done it without his expert guidance.” ~Michael B.

“Andrew was hands down my favorite instructor since enrolling” “He has great skills as an instructor, and I've learned a lot from his classes.” ~Jeff S.

“As an instructor, he is thorough, articulate, patient and positive. He genuinely cares that his students fully comprehend the curriculum. I have a great deal of respect for Andrew. I can't recommend him highly enough.” ~Dan H.

“I found Andrew to be one of the best Instructors” “He presents the information with real world applications, which helped to reinforce the concepts presented in the Cisco Certification track.” “I am truely thankful to have had him as my teacher.” ~Dan M.

“Andrew is very knowledgeable and brings his practical business experience with him. He expresses himself very well and treats everyone with respect. He explains very complicated concepts in a manner that is easy to understand.” “It is without reservation that I would recommend Andrew as a business professional and/or teacher.” ~Adam C.

“Andrew is an excellent instructor and more.” “Andrew is the kind of teacher that you never forget.” ~ William C.

“Andrew Grimes is a first rate instructor who genuinely cares about the success of his students. I was fortunate to have Andrew as my instructor.” “I highly recommend Andrew as an instructor and IT professional.” ~Paul C.

“Andrew is a great instructor who really cares whether his students grasp the concepts he teaches. He has a passion for teaching that many couldn't muster.” ~Patrick R.

“He was a great teacher and I would gladly take a class under him again.” ~Joshua R.

“…his style of teaching is accommodating for any level, that a student is starting off at, either beginning or advance in IT world.” ~Paul W.

“He fosters a multidimensional environment of learning in which students of diverse abilities excel.” ~Mark B

“Andrew Grimes was a great Data Networks and Telecommunications Instructor.” “I would highly recommend him to any who desires to further their education.” ~ Tommy S.

Who this course is for:
- Anyone wanting to get into a career in IT
More Info