Which of the following are parts of a hierarchical storage system? I. Cache…

CONCEPT

A storage hierarchy organizes storage technologies by access time, cost per bit, capacity, and method of access. Small, fast layers are placed near the processor, while progressively larger and slower online, near-line, and offline layers occupy lower levels.

APPLICATION

• Statement I names cache memory. A cache retains recently or nearby used data close to the processor, exploiting temporal and spatial locality to reduce average access time.

• Statement II names near-line mass storage. It provides much larger capacity with slower, indirect or automated retrieval, so it represents a lower storage-hierarchy level.

CONTRAST AND CROSS-CHECK

• “Only I” keeps the fast cache level but omits the lower-level, capacity-oriented near-line tier.

• “Neither I nor II” omits both the processor-near level and the lower near-line level.

• “Only II” keeps the near-line level but omits the processor-near cache level.

• “Both I and II” includes the two technologies at their different positions in the hierarchy.

Thus, the membership pattern supported by the hierarchy is Both I and II.