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Paragraph Number

30

"Data block" refers to a smallest physical amount of storage space on physical storage media that is accessible, and/or addressable, using a storage command. The physical storage media may be volatile memory media, non-volatile memory media, persistent storage, non-volatile storage, flash storage media, hard disk drive, or the like. Certain conventional storage devices divide the physical storage media into volumes or logical partitions (also referred to as partitions). Each volume or logical partition may include a plurality of sectors. One or more sectors are organized into a block (also referred to as a data block). In certain storage systems, such as those interfacing with the Windows.RTM. operating systems, the data blocks are referred to as clusters. In other storage systems, such as those interfacing with UNIX, Linux, or similar operating systems, the data blocks are referred to simply as blocks. A data block or cluster represents a smallest physical amount of storage space on the storage media that is managed by a storage controller. A block storage device may associate n data blocks available for user data storage across the physical storage media with an LBA, numbered from 0 to n. In certain block storage devices, the LBAs may range from 0 to n per volume or logical partition. In conventional block storage devices, a logical block address maps directly to one and only one data block.

Added by DJM 12 2021