ops 201 reading 11 - ElodieReb/reading-notes GitHub Wiki

Reading Notes for Class 11, Self-Paced Ops 201

Objective

Today's readings relate to what we are studying in class as it highlights things we should be looking for in the event that an SSD fails. As future IT professionals, it is important that we be able to recognize the signs of an issue taking place so that we are able to better diagnose the problem and come up with an effective solution for the user. In the case of the corrupt SSD, there are a few different ways that functionality can possibly be restored, or that the user's data can be recovered. In extreme cases, the DBAN program can be employed to completely wipe a hard drive. This should be a last resort option, however.

Reading Comprehension (1)

Title = SolarwindsMSP: SSD Data Recovery Best Practices

Note = an SSD is a Solid-State Drive, a type of storage device used in computers

  1. What are some common indicators that an SSD may be failing? Some common indicators that an SSD may be failing are (1) issues associated with saving, reading or moving files, typically associated with bad blocks, (2) if a computer or file system requires repair but physical defect software shows no damage, (3) if a computer crashes while booting up but seems to work normally after several reboots, and (4) if an SSD will not operate except to perform read-only functions.
  2. < How do SSD failures differ from HDD failures in terms of detectability? SSD failures can be difficult to detect as they do not emit audible failure signals such as whirring, clicking, or humming like when an HDD fails.
  3. What are bad blocks in an SSD, and how do they affect its performance? Bad blocks are storage segments that, through memory corruption or physical damage, impede data storage and retrieval functions. These blocks affect system performance through errors in saving, reading and moving files, through causing active applications to operate slowly or crash frequently, or through general performance decrease, especially when handling large files.
  4. How can power cycling an SSD help resolve certain issues? Power cycling a computer clears out the internal memory and puts the device back into a ready state without losing any internal configuration. (Source: Power Cycle, How & Why)
  5. How might this topic be relevant in the aftermath of a natural disaster? Describe how individuals or communities can use these techniques to recover data and resume their normal activities. In the event that an SSD fails, this information can be used in an effort to understand what went wrong and how to possibly restore functionality or recover data from the failed drive.

Reading Comprehension (2)

Title = How to Erase a Hard Drive Using DBAN

  • In order to use DBAN to erase a hard drive, it must be burned to a CD/usb/some kind of bootable device as the program cannot be run while the OS is in use.

Things I'd like to know more about

  • Nada