What is volume? - Definition from Whatis.com

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volume

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volume

Also see volume (amount of physical bulk).

1) In computers, a volume is an identifiable unit of data storage that is sometimes (but not always) physically removable from the computer or storage system. In tape storage systems, a volume may be a tape cartridge (or, in older systems, a tape reel). In mainframe storage systems, a volume may be a removable hard disk. Each volume has a system-unique name or number that allows it to be specified by a user.

In some systems, the physical unit may be divided into several separately identifiable volumes.

2) In audio, volume is the loudness of the signal.

Related glossary terms: hard disk, magnetoresistive head technology, yottabyte, serverless backup, byte, partition, InfiniBand, failover, RAMAC (random access method of accounting and control), Fibre Channel

This was last updated in March 2000

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