An external hard drive is a peripheral device that can be connected to your computer, allowing you to store any essential data you don’t require or want to keep on your computer’s internal storage. It performs the same function as an internal HDD or SSD located outside of your computer. It offers an additional means to back up your work as a precautionary measure in case of unforeseen events that could impact your desktop computer or laptop. Computers are not impervious to damage, and you may eventually encounter situations where the hard drive fails, accidental data loss or destruction occurs, or your files get unexpectedly corrupted. These scenarios are common, so creating backups can provide peace of mind, knowing that your valuable data will remain safe from accidental loss.

 

Desktop Drives

Desktop drives are ideal for extended usage, being highly dependable and durable. They can store significantly more terabytes of data than portable hard drives, so they offer ample storage space. These drives are particularly well-suited for professional environments, where they can seamlessly integrate as a peripheral in the complete computer setup, necessitating their dedicated power source. It is worth mentioning that HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) are the prevalent choice for desktop drives due to their long-lasting performance, cost-effectiveness, and proven mechanics. On the other hand, portable external drives are smaller and lighter but typically offer limited storage resources compared to desktop drives.

 

RAIDing

RAID, short for a redundant array of inexpensive disks, is a data storage virtualization technology that merges multiple physical disk drive components into one or more logical units, enhancing data redundancy, performance, or both. Initially, there were five standard RAID levels, but numerous variations have emerged over time, including nested levels and various non-standard configurations. While we won’t delve into the specifics of each level, it’s essential to recognize that desktop drives supporting two or more disks can leverage RAID for improved performance, reliability, or redundancy.

 

For instance, if one drive fails in such a setup, the second drive seamlessly takes over, ensuring your data remains accessible, albeit with a temporary read/write speed loss, until swapping out the failed drive.

 

Uses in Today’s Workspace to Enhance Productivity

• Expanding Data Pool – For most consumers, the primary consideration when buying an external hard drive is its storage capacity and the associated cost. The decisive factor revolves around the volume of data requiring backup and the desired level of space expansion.
• Ensuring Data Security – We sometimes store sensitive information on our external hard drives. These drives may include built-in security features, such as password protection and even fingerprint authentication, to safeguard such data.
• Data Backup and Storage – Desktop drives can create backups of your computer’s primary hard drives. Depending on the software utilized, this backup process can be conducted through live replication or scheduled at specific intervals.

 

For almost three decades, Glyph has been a pioneering company in the digital data storage industry, specializing in product design, assembly, and testing within the USA. Their external storage solutions are meticulously engineered to address the most rigorous and challenging workflows.