An Introduction to MIS - Chapter 3: Hardware, Software, and Networks
byte
8 bits
hertz
CPU speed expressed in this
clients
PCs, tablets, and smartphones that access servers and the cloud
user experience (UX)
UI and way user responds to application
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
address on the Internet
Internet protocols(/standards)
adds to TCP/IP that let cloud-hosting vendors provide processing capabilities in flexible yet standardized ways
commerce server
application program that runs on server tier computers
thin-client (application)
application run on browsers in many different operating systems
one-of-a-kind (application software)
application software developed for specific, unique need
horizontal-market (application software)
application software that provides capabilities common across all organizations/industries
three-tier (architecture)
architecture consisting of user, server, and database tiers
context-sensitive (chrome)
chrome that pops up in display when needed
infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
cloud hosting of bare server computer/disk drive
software as a service (SaaS)
cloud-based service that provides hardware infrastructure, operating system, and application programs
platform as a service (PaaS)
cloud-based service that provides hosted campus, operating system, and DBMS
network
collection of computers communicating with one another over transmission lines/wireless connections
server farm
collection of normally thousands of servers
source code
computer code written/understood by humans
server
computer designed to support processing from many remote computers/users
dual processor
computer with two CPUs
wide area network (WAN)
connects computers at different geographical areas
volatile
contents lost when power off
pull (data)
data that device requests from server
push (data)
data that server sends to device
The Cloud
elastic leasing of pooled computer resources over the Internet
site license
flat fee allowing computer installation programs on all computers
object-orientated (language)
language that can be used to create difficult, complex applications and will usually result in high performance code that's easy to alter
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
most common language for defining structure/layout of Web pages
tag
notation used to define data element for display/other purposes
Web (page)
page with document coded in one of standard page markup languages
ARM
power-saving computer architecture designed for portable devices such as phones and tablets
virtualization
process by which computer hosts many computers' appearances
Web servers
programs running on server-tier computer manages http traffic by sending/receiving Web pages to/from clients
Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP)
protocol used between browsers and Web servers
simple mail transfer protocol (smtp)
protocol used for email transmissions
TCP/IP Protocol (architecture)
protocols are organized according to this architecture
application software
software that performs a service
closed source
source code highly protected and only allowed to certain employees/contractors
switch
special-purpose computer receiving/transmitting wired traffic on LAN
direct interaction
the act of using content to drive application behavior
user (tier)
tier that consists of computers, phones, and other devices with browsers requesting/processing Web pages
database (tier)
tier that has computers running DBMS processing requests to retrieve/store data
server (tier)
tier that has computers running Web servers and processes application programs
attribute
variable used to provide properties about tags
PC (virtualization)
virtualization where PC hosts several different operating systems
server (virtualization)
virtualization where server computer hosts one or other server computers
desktop (virtualization)
virtualization where server hosts many versions of desktop operating systems
cable line
way to connect to Internet by using cable TV lines
WAN wireless
way to connect to Internet by using no wires
digital subscriber line (DSL)
way to connect to Internet by using own protocols for data transmission
Web farm
web server computers that support commercial sites by distributing work among computers
Bluetooth
wireless protocol transmitting data over short distances
domain name
worldwide-unique name affiliated with particular Internet address
random access memory (RAM)
• CPU works with this to read data and instructions from here • CPU stores computation results here • main memory • contents volatile (lost when power off)
Web
• Internet-based network of browsers/services processing http/https • not used for e-mail
native-client (thick application)
• application run on just one operating system • developed using serious, professional programming languages
vertical-market (application software)
• application software that serves specific industry's needs • usually can be altered/customized
service-orientated architecture (SOA)
• architecture that has applications using standard protocols to publish menu of services applications provide, structure of data expected to receive/produce, and ways in which services can be requested • Web service provider, such as cloud-hosting organization, uses these standards to specify work performed and how it will be performed • consumers of services use standards to request/receive service
machine code
• computer compiles/process • humans usually don't understand and can't modify
firmware
• computer software installed into devices like printers, print servers, communication devices • coded like other software but installed into special, read-only memory of printer/other device • can be changed/upgraded but usually IT does those
local area network (LAN)
• connects computers residing in geographical area on premises of company owning this • computers usually located within 1/2 mile of each other • located on property controlled by organization operating this
hardware
• electronic components and gadgets that input, process, output, and store data according to directions encoded in computer programs/software • capacities of this specified according to data units
roaming
• happens when users move activities across devices • ex: reading page on Kindle will make same page on iPad
virtual machine
• host-operating system hosts this • has disk space and resources allocated to it • with virtualization, this is able to operate exactly the same as it would if operating in stand-alone, nonvirtual environment
internet
• network of networks • connects LANs, WANs, and other this
user interface (UI)
• present format of application • includes windows, menus, icons, dialog boxes, toolbars, user content
operating system (OS)
• program controlling computer's resources • reads/writes data • allocates RAM, swaps memory • starts/stops programs • responds to errors • facilitates backup and memory • creates/manages user interface (display, mouse)
Ethernet
• protocol used for LAN • specifies hardware characteristics • describes how messages to be packaged/processed for wired transmission over LAN • network interface controllers in computers support 10/100/1000 this
file transfer protocol (ftp)
• protocol used to move files over Internet • commonly used to maintain sites
host-operating system
• runs one or more operating systems as applications • controls virtual machines to prevent them from interfering with one another
central processing unit (CPU)
• selects instructions, processes them • performs arithmetic/logical comparisons • stores results of operations in memory • "the brain"
protocol
• set of rules two communicating devices follow • some used for LANs, WANs, internets, the Internet, or all
storage hardware
• used to save data/programs • ex: magnetic disks, CDs/DVDs, thumbdrives, magnetic tape
chrome
• visual overhead in computer display • includes windows, menus, and other apparatus driving application
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• when connecting to Internet, connecting to this • provides Internet access • serves as gateway to Internet • pays for Internet
