SMR stands for "Shingled Magnetic Recording." It is a term commonly used in computer storage technology and refers to a method used in hard disk drives (HDDs) to increase storage capacity.
In SMR, the tracks on a magnetic disk overlap, resembling roof shingles, which allows for higher recording density. This technique enables the storage of more data in the same physical disk space. Unlike conventional perpendicular recording techniques where each track is clearly divided with distinct magnetic domains, SMR involves overlapping tracks that partially overlap each other. This results in a slight reduction in performance, but it significantly boosts the storage capacity of the hard disk.
SMR technology works by allowing new data to be written in the gaps between existing tracks. When writing new data, the shingled tracks must be rewritten in their entirety, including the overlapping portions. This process is known as "rewriting overhead" and could potentially impact the efficiency and speed of data writing.
The increased storage capacity provided by SMR technology makes it suitable for applications such as cold storage and archiving, where data is often read more frequently than written. However, due to the rewrite overhead and potential performance degradation, SMR drives are generally not recommended for workloads that require frequent random write operations.
In summary, SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) is a storage technology used in hard disk drives that enables higher storage capacity by overlapping tracks, although it may affect performance and suitability for certain workloads.
