PROTECTED STORAGE DEVICE FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM

摘要

The invention is a storage device ( 1 ) for a host computer system. The device ( 1 ) incorporates a Supervisor function for controlling access to information stored in a storage medium ( 2 ) of the device. The main embodiment described is a hard disk drive ( 1 ) comprising: one or more disk platters ( 2 ) for storing information; a ROM ( 4 ) for storing firmware for controlling operation of the drive; a volatile RAM ( 5 ); a micro-controller ( 7 ) for controlling the transfer of information to and from the disk platter(s) ( 2 ); and an interface ( 6 ) for interfacing the drive ( 1 ) with the host computer system and via which information is transferred to and from the disk platter(s) ( 2 ) under the control of the micro-controller ( 7 ). A Supervisor is provided in the form of firmware which is preferably stored in the ROM ( 4 ), the Supervisor operating the micro-controller ( 7 ) so as to protect information stored on the disk platter(s).