Chapter 5: IT Infrastructure: Hardware and Software

What are the 5 major components of IT infrastructure?

- Computer hardware - Computer software - Data management technology - Networking/Telecommunications technology - Technology services

Know about all of the secondary storage technology

- Magnetic disks - Optical disks - Magnetic tape - Storage area networking

5 characteristics of cloud computing

- On-demand self-service - Ubiquitous network access(easy access) - Location independent resource pooling (pooled to serve multiple users) - Rapid elasticity(resources can be easily provisioned based on demand) - Measured service (charges based on amount of resources used)

Know all types of computer softwares

- Operating systems - Application software and desktop productivity tools - Application programming languages

Know about different types of computers

- PC - Workstation - Server - Mainframe - Supercomputer - Grid computing

What are the cloud-based software services and tools?

- SaaS - Mashup - Apps

XML (Extensible Markup Language)

A foundation technology for web services developed in 1996 by the World Wide Web Consortium as a more powerful and flexible markup language than HTML for web pages. XML can perform presentation, communication, and storage of data.

Mainframe

A large capacity, high performance computer that can process large amounts of data rapidly.

Cloud computing

A model of computing in which computer processing, storage, software, and other services are provided as a pool of virtualized resources over a network, primarily the internet.

HTML

A page description language for specifying how text, graphics, video, and sound are placed on a web page and for creating dynamic links to other web pages and objects

Web services

A set of loosely coupled software components that exchange information with each other using universal web communication standards and languages. Exchanging information between two different systems regardless of the operating systems or programming languages which the systems are based

SOA (Service Oriented Architecture)

A set of self contained services that communicate with each other to create a working software application. Software developers reuse these services in other combinations to assemble other applications as needed.

Scalability

Ability of a computer, product, or system to expand to serve a large number of users without breaking down.

Mashup

Composite software applications that depend on high speed networks, universal communication standards, and open-source code.

Storage area networking

Connect multiple storage devices on a separate high speed network dedicated to storage; creates a large central pool of storage that can be rapidly accessed and shared by multiple servers

Grid computing

Connecting geographically remote computers into a single network to create a virtual supercomputer by combining the computational power of all computers on the grid

Cloud platform as a service

Customers use infrastructure and programming tools supported by the cloud service provider to develop their own applications.

Cloud Infrastructure as a service

Customers use processing, storage, networking, and other resources from cloud service providers to run their own information systems.

Cloud software as a service

Customers use software hosted by the vendor on the vendor's cloud infrastructure and delivered over a network. (Google Docs)

Open source software

Developed by a community of programmers around the world, who make their programs available to users

Output devices

Display data after they have processed; monitors, printers are examples

Input devices

Gather data and convert them into electronic form for use by the computer; keyboard, mouse, touch screen, scanner are examples

Centralized processing

Happens when all processing is accomplished by one large central computer. It is less common.

Computer software

Includes both system software and application software.; system software manages the resources and activities of the computer; application software applies the computer to a specific task for an end user

Workstation

Made for advanced design or engineering work requiring powerful graphics

HTML5

Most recent version of HTML, makes it possible to embed images, audio, videos and other elements directly onto a document without processor intensive add-ons. Also easier to be displayed on other devices (smartphones, desktops, etc)

Magnetic disks

Most widely used secondary storage medium today; hard drives, SSD's, or solid state drives are examples

Consumerization of IT

New technology that emerges in consumer market spreads into business organizations, BYDO( Bring your own device) business use of personal mobile devices

Magnetic tape

Older storage technology that is used for secondary storage of large quantities of data that are needed rapidly but not instantly; stores data sequentially

What are some of the new software trends?

Open source software

Technology services

People are needed to maintain and manage infrastructure components; legacy systems are older transaction processing systems created for older computers that continue to be used to avoid the high cost of replacing them

PC

Personal computer

Application programming languages

Popular programming languages for business applications include C, C++, Visual Basic, and Java

Capacity planning

Process of predicting when a computer hardware system becomes saturated.

Java

Programming language that can deliver only the software functionality needed for a particular task, such as a small applet downloaded from a network; can run on any computer and operating system

Networking/telecommunications technology

Provides data, voice, and video connectivity to employees, customers, and suppliers

SaaS

Services for delivering and providing access to software remotely as a Web-based service

Apps

Small pieces of software that run on the internet, on your computer, or on your cell phone and are generally delivered over the internet

Application software and desktop productivity tools

Software for developing internet applications and software for enterprise integration. Examples are: software packages, word processing software, spreadsheet software, data management software, presentation graphics, software suites, and web browsers

Data management technology

Specialized software for storing and organizing data.

Supercomputer

Specially designed, more sophisticated computer that is used for tasks requiring extremely rapid and complex calculations with thousands of variables, millions of measurements, and thousands of equations

Client server computing

Splits processing between clients and servers. both are on the network, but each machine is assigned functions it is best suited to perform. the client is the user point of entry for the required function and is normally a desktop or laptop. users interface with the client machines. More common amongst users.

Computer hardware

Technology for computer processing, data storage, input, and output.

Operating systems

The system software that manages and controls the computer's activities

Distributed processing

The use of multiple computers linked by a communications network for processing is called

Server

This is needed if a business has a number of computers networked together or maintains a Website; they provide the hardware platform for electronic commerce; Computer specifically optimized to provide software and other resources to other computers over a network

Optical disks

Use laser technology to store large quantities of data, including sound and images, in a compact form; CD-ROM(compact disc read only memory); DVD's

Total cost of ownership

Used to analyze direct and indirect costs to help determine the actual cost of owning a specific technology.

Nanotechnology

Uses individual atoms and molecules to create computer chips and other devices thousands of times smaller than current technologies

Quantum computing

Uses principles of quantum physics to represent data and perform operations on the data. Enables processing times that are millions of times faster than current high-speed processing