INFO 300 Quiz 1
Describe 'AAA' as it applies to modern, multi-user OSs and application environments.
Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Multi-user Oss such as allowing a network like VCU has so users can log in one time to computer and it allows access to their email, blackboard, and other services on the schools network. Also many companies use two 2factory authorization method, where you have a RFID that generates a code, which you use to log into a site with the Username & password that you know.
How are mainframes used these days? Who uses them? What recent developments have there been in mainframe technology?
Big businesses/Institutions
Which classes of computers are least likely to have RISC CPUs?
Big desktops, servers, gaming laptops.
Describe how inexpensive, relatively unreliable server-class machines can be used to make a fault tolerant environment.
By creating a cloud/cluster and when you have to take one down they relocate to another server. Which can cost a large amount for upfront cost. Many agree that they are better and less-expensive solution.
What is a 'virtual machine'? What is 'byte code'? How does byte code differ from binary, machine code? What's required to run byte code on a system?
Byte code is put to 'middleware' like JVM or .NET Framework for execution, and the middleware presents the binary code to the 'Virtual Machine' to run on the CPU.
Name and describe CISC and RISC architectures. What are the design objectives for each? Name two manufacturers identified with CISC, two of low-end RISC, and two of high-end RISC.
CISC x86-64, RISC small, simple instruction se RISC is for small process tablets, phones, and gas stations. Low-end RISC NXP/ Freescale semiconductor/ARM architecture/MIPS manufactures High-end RISC IBM/HP Intel/AMD CISC manufactures
How do companies like Red Hat & Suse charge money for their distributions of free software?
Charge for paid tech support, pay per call, onsite support
Describe Windows' penetration of the server market. About how much share does Windows have in server, mid-range, and mainframe markets? Against which operating systems does Windows Server compete?
Compared to the data I found online Windows only has about 36% as linux has about 79% of the market share. For the recent calculations since 2014. They are competing against Unix
Name and characterize three different flavors of Linux.
Debian - Free unix-like operating system, released in 1993 Ubuntu - Free unix-like operating system, based on debian, released in 2004. Fedora- free unix-like operating system, released in 2003
Is this statement true or false: Microsoft has never and will never provided OS for RISC. Explain your answer.
False, Mircosoft used to run on MIPS and has been starting to deploy their OS onto RISC hardware for the use of smartphones, tablets, and other low end devices.
Name three traditional mid-range/server manufacturers who offer their customers the option of Linux or their proprietary *IX.
HP, Dell, Sun
Name three legacy providers of computers and operating systems.
IBM, HP, SGI, SUN Windows NT, SunOS, Windows DOS
Name and briefly describe each of the 7 operating system functions discussed in class.
Interfaces Provides a gui shell that handles OS functions for ordinary users Device management Controls access to keyboard, mouse, monitor, prinkers, etc File Management Lets users do basic functions to search, move, copy, and delete Memory Management is concerned with the system's Primary Storage Process Management Authentication, Authorization & Accounting for multi-users Networking and Internetworking Controls the protocols
What type of software is closely associated with device management?
Keyboard, Mouse, monitor, printers, speakers
What is a legacy system?
Legacy system is an old method, technology, computer, or application program. Basically a system out of date.
Name two competitors for Microsoft's Office products.
Linux Koffice, Sun's Open Office
How are machine language (1GL) and assembly languages (2GL) similar and how are they different? Name two assembly languages
Machine code is binary 1's and 0's code that can be executed directly by the cpu. Assembly code is plain-text read-able source code that is direct 1:1 analog with machine instructions Two assembly languages ARM / MIPS/ x86
In any case, server farm, mid-range or mainframe, what is required to provide as close to 100% availability of computing resource as is possible?
Mainframes
What are 'fault tolerant' or 'highly available' computers? How do they differ from a stand-alone server-class machine?
Mainframes or Mid-range computers can fail and be replaced without affecting the machines ability
Describe the markets for RISC and unix/Linux in the last 5+ years.
Market for RISC
Discuss Memory Management. Use these terms in your discussion: RAM, Cache, DMA, Virtual Memory, Garbage Collection, Memory Leakage
Memory Management is concerned with the system's Primary Storage RAM & Cache located further and nearer from the CPUS DMA Virtual Memory is used to swap the contents of ram to disk when there is not enough contiguous space in the ram to handle demands from active processes Garbage Collection allows memory to return that is no longer needed by retiring processes to the pool for new processes to use it. Memory Leakage which is rampant in some applications, especially in windows which may cause the blue screen of death if IT administrators failed to reboot their servers often enough.
What is memory leakage and what is its effect? Where does it occur?
Memory leakage is when a computer memory is used and fails to get returned that was obtained for temporary use. Can diminish the performance of the computer by reducing the ram. It occurs when a program uses the memory to process a command or application then when it is done it does not return it.
What is 'middleware'? What advantages does this approach to software deployment offer? What is the disadvantage of using middleware?
Middleware example could be Java, you write one version for the application for Java and then it can run anywhere Java is installed. Disadvantage would be security can introduce new security holes, how to worry about an extra computer going down, slow computer for application server, slow connection between applications server & database server.
Name and briefly describe the applications of the seven or eight classes of computers in the 'range of computers' discussed in class. The low end of the range is embedded processors; the high end is super-computers.
Minicomputer Workstation Personal Computer Notebook computer Laptop Computer Hand-held Computer Mainframes Supercomputers
Name an OS & platform associated with each of these processors: Motorola/Power/RISC, Intel/x86, Sparc, and zAPP
Motorola - Android, AJAR Intel - Windows 7 Sparc - SunOS ZAAP - IBM system z, Java
Compare and contrast MySQL and Oracle DBMS.
MySQL is limited and fitted for smaller applications. Oracle handles huge databases; Corporate level.
Name three DBMS.
MySQL, Oracle, IBM
How do the development environments for 'open source' software like Linux or LibreOffice and 'proprietary' software like MSOffice or IBM's i5OS differ?
Open source is a community- built by people who donate their stuff. They believe it should be open source and not sold. Proprietary software is developed to be sold and is more of the lines of a trade secret. The source code is usually held by their author, is distributed as binary executables or byte code without the source code.
Describe what happens when a personal computer or server is switched on. Define and describe these terms in your answer: POST, Boot Sector, BIOS, OS, Dual-boot.
POST - Power On Self Test BiOS - set of computer instructions in the firmware that can control input and output operations OS - Software that the systems runs off of. Dual-boot - system or hosts more than two operating systems Boot Sector - CD/Floppy Drive / HD
Some devices use 'spoolers'. What is a spooler? Give an example of a commonly used spooler.
Printers, they generally have spoolers to keep the system in line when a network full of people are printing so that it doesn't get mangled together
Describe these two differences between RISC and CISC: instruction sets and 'endianness'.
RISC (big endian) is small instruction set (starts from the top) CISC (little endian) can be allowed to run more feature rich instruction set (start from the bottom)
Briefly define, compare, and contrast RISC and CISC technology. Name recent examples of CPUs for each technology.
RISC - emphasis on software single-clock, big endian mortorla, snap dragon. CISC - emphasis on hardware multiclock, little endian, i7, xenon
Name three platforms that do not involve Windows
RedHat, Raspberry Pi, Mac OS X
What are the relationships among AIX, SCO, Novell,& IBM?
SCO tried to revoke IBMs license to use UNIX in their AIX operating system. SCO raised a multi billion dollar lawsuit again IBM and never showed evidence. The suit was thrown out of the court.
From the Software Wars diagram: Name three traditional, proprietary Unix manufacturers.
SGI, HP, SUN
Some organizations run enterprise-scale applications on server farms, others run them on mid-range or mainframes. What are the tradeoffs involved in the two approaches?
Server farms are much less expensive, but mainframes can do the work of many server farms. Trade offs are the amount of space, heat, power, and complexity. One mainframe can out-perform 1000+ servers, but few can run windows.
In 2015, which classes of computers are most likely to use CISC CPUs? Name two manufacturers of CISC CPUs.
Servers/Mainframes Intel, AMD
In 2015, which classes of computers are most likely to use RISC CPUs? Name at least three.
Small Processors Tablets Smartphones Gas stations
What is SMP? How has SMP improved performance of computers?
Symmetrical Multi Processing It improves performance of computers by allowing the program to run on more than one cpu
What network protocols are supported by practically all personal computers and servers these days?
TCP/IP, SMP, ICMP, POP3, IMAP, HTTP, SFTP, SSH, SSL
What is 'scalability' in a business application environment?
The ability for hardware or software to expand to support increasing workloads.
What do Java and the .NET Framework have in common?
They are both middleware
How are the JRE/JVM and .NET framework similar? Who provides each?
They are both middleware for applications, .NET is for C+, C and other program, as java is for java applications. It allows programmers to code one time and distribute to all.
How are mid-range systems used these days? Who uses them? Who manufactures them?
To create server farms and clusters/clouds. HP, IBM, SUN
Is this statement true or false? Mainframes are very expensive to own and operate relative to server farms and they are practically obsolete. Explain your answer.
True, mainframes are every expensive compaired to server farms and are becoming obsolete because its cheaper to make a few server farms
Where did UNIX come from and when? Where did Windows come from and when? Windows 3.11 for Workgroups and Windows NT marked Microsoft's entry into the server market place -- when did that happen?
Unix came from AT&T Bell Laboratories in the early 1970's Windows came in 1985 from microsoft Windows NT/ 3.11 came out in 1992
Name three interfaces an OS like Windows or Linux provides.
User Application Program Web
Describe these terms: VAR, Vertical Market.
Value Added Reseller are people that are experts in the Vertical market and add value to the machines they sell.
Characterize the LAMP environment
Web server run on linux - it is open source and free.
Name four operating systems most likely to be encountered by an IT professional these days.
Windows Server 2012 CentOS Ubuntu RedHat
Name four operating systems. Name three applications.
Windows XP Apple iOS ChromeOS Linux Apache MySQL Sendmail
Differentiate among workstation/server, mid-range, and mainframe computers. Name two manufacturers associated with each class of computer.
Workstation/server - this Dell/HP Mid-range - this HP/IBM Mainframe - this IBM/Sun
