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
