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TB, TiB, GB, GiB, kB, kiB?
Ok, since 12 years already the storage industry agreed upon using the scientifically correct terms for Giga (meaning 1,000,000,000) instead of 1024x1024x1024. Even in course material these days this is promoted. Google Gigabyte and see what you get! It's perfectly explained what the actual difference between GB and GiB is!!
So 1TB = 1000GB and 1GB = 1000MB and so on.
So I'm using Solutions Enabler (latest version 7.4) and to my surprise I'm seeing this:
512-byte Blocks : 92160000
MegaBytes : 45000
KiloBytes : 46080000
So 92,160,000 blocks of 512 bytes are available in a certain tdev. This is 92,160,000 x 512 = 47,185,920,000 bytes.
So how can this be only 45,000 Megabytes? Where's the 2,185,920,000 bytes that's gone missing?
And what's even more weird: If this tdev is 45,000 MB, why is this suddenly 46,080,000 bytes? All of a sudden I'm getting 1,080,000 kB back?
EMC, come on, get your facts straight and start using the correct abbreviations. So what do I now report to the host admin? How much GB did I just give him? 47.185, 46.08 or 45 ? Now what is it?
I think the easiest way to actually resolve this is to start using GiB (meaning 1024x1024x1024 bytes) and kiB (small k means kilo, because a large K represents Kelvin).
Avinash V
91 Posts
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November 22nd, 2012 02:00
Duplicate Post - Refer https://community.emc.com/message/691633#691633
Archuperi721
110 Posts
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November 22nd, 2012 02:00
Good explanation J
Regards,
Periyakaruppan N (Peri),
RRR
5.7K Posts
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November 22nd, 2012 03:00
Mega means million, which is a 1 with 6 times a zero! This became a standard in the late 90s or early 2000 already.
1024 x 1024 Bytes is 1 MiB (Mebibyte). The EMC course material is actually being rewritten to reflect this and EMC pushes hard to the correct usage! Even exams now use GiB and GB, so pay attention!
Also mark that the k in kB is not a capital! A K means Kelvin which is a means to write down temperatures!
So 300K is NOT 300 kilobytes, but 300 kelvin! (http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/units.html)
RRR
5.7K Posts
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November 22nd, 2012 03:00
Yeah, I know. I was in doubt where to place this and I wanted to make sure that people actually see this. At least I think that this is important since loads of people still think that 1 MB is 1024x1024 Bytes, which isn’t the case at all. Mega means million which is still a 1 with 6 zeros.
Sam Claret
86 Posts
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November 22nd, 2012 23:00
At the end of the day it's down to the difference between strict definition and common usage.
The problem started when vendors of hard disks (
) sold disks saying they were say 100 Megs and when you formatted them you got less.
Yes I know about overhead etc etc.....
So if I am talking about disks or RAM and using Gigabyte I am generally thinking of the 1024*..... form. Thats common usage.
Personally using Mebibyte is going to confuse a lot of people. Not least all our spell checkers.
KB or kB or kb ...... that argument is a bit spurious - as context is important. You would have us say the definitions are kb - kilobit, kB - kilobyte, KB - Kelvin ???
personally I think kB looks wrong - if you are talking capacity it makes more sense (to me) to use KB and Kb - and using temperature use K.
Language is an ever evolving process - look at additions like google and googleplex. Other words in common usage have changed completely.
As long as you know the context and understand the subject (to a certain degree) Mebibyte or Megabyte. Tell me are you really comfortable changing.
Techie 1024*1024.
Everyone else 1000*1000.
Sam Claret TSE3
Global Technical Support – SSG Windows
RRR
5.7K Posts
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November 23rd, 2012 00:00
The thing is that you didn't get less at all. Windows tranlated everything in MiB, but said it was MB. This had nothing to do with overhead at all. Do a simple chkdsk on the cmd prompt and see how many bytes are reported. Right! The confusion starts when an OS says it's 232GB, while in fact it's 232 x 1024 Megabyte, so 232 x 1024 x 1000 x 1000 (this is an example, the numbers are wrong this time). I can imagine that everybody gets lost there. I'm lost there too
Did I know about this 10 or 12 years ago? No, you're right, I didn't know either, but then again, my school days are more than 18 years behind me and my daughter is only 10 right now, so how was I supposed to know?
When did I find out? Hmmm in 2005 or 2006 already. Did I spread the word? Hell yes!
Why doesn't everybody know and use the correct prefixes?
And yes, language is an always evolving discussion on word usage and I agree that as long as we understand eachother that's fine, but that's why they invented the SI system with units and prefixes in the first place. In a tech environment as we work in, using the correct units and prefixes shouldn't be a problem, right? Most of us have had a technical education background, so I don't even know why we're even dicsussing this.
Well, at least EMC is promoting it now in the new course material, so this should get things started.
Sam Claret
86 Posts
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November 23rd, 2012 00:00
Personally I still think in terms of Inches, feet, yards, rods, poles, perches, miles and leagues.......what's a kilometre now (1024 meters whatever they are?)? lol
For me school is more than 3 decades away. Call me old fashioned.
Discussion is what makes communication. And it can be fun.
Sam Claret TSE3
Global Technical Support – SSG Windows
RRR
5.7K Posts
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November 23rd, 2012 01:00
Sam Claret
86 Posts
0
November 23rd, 2012 01:00
I was being tongue in cheek
Sam Claret TSE3
Global Technical Support – SSG Windows
RRR
5.7K Posts
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November 23rd, 2012 01:00
I guess I have the advantage that I grew up in the metric system, so I'm very used to using physics units and prefixes.
And 1 kilometer = 1 kilo meters = 1 x 1,000 meters
Just like 1 kHz (used for radio frequencies), 1 kJ (kilo Joules for enegry usage), 1 kW (kilo Watt for power concumption), 1 kV (kilo Volt for wall outlets and heavy machinery).
I'm wondering: you said you're using the feet, inch and mile system. Is there a transition going on to th emetric system or is that just a rumor? I heard several countries started using the metric system 1 or 2 decades ago already. I guess the "older" generation can't be saved, but the youngsters could be learning to use the "new" system.