Chapter 4 COB 204

What do you need to know about hardware? 

What do you need to know about hardware?  Consists of electronic components and related gadgetry that input, process, output, and store data according to instructions in programs or software

The CPU – The BRAIN  Selects the instructions, processes them, performs the duties, and stores the results.  Dual processor – has 2 CPUs  Quad processor – has 4 CPUs  Works in conjunction with Main Memory, aka RAM  Peripherals connected by USB connectors

Storage Hardware  Saves data and programs  Most popular – Magnetic disk  Others  Optical disk (CD, DVD)  Thumbdrives – portable magnetic devices  Tape

Computer Data Heirarchy  Bit (a binary digit)  Circuit that is either on or off; 0’s and 1’s  Byte  Group of 8 bits, represents a single character  Kilobyte (K)  1024 bytes  Megabyte (MB)  1024K  Gigabyte (GB)  1024 MB  Terabyte (TB)  1024 GB  Memory tool: Biting and Kicking Makes Gigantic Trouble

Input and Output  Input technologies  Accept data and instructions  Converts them to a form that the computer can understand  Output technologies  Present data and information in a form people can understand

How does a computer work?  Program goes from disk to main memory  Instruction goes by bus (aka data channel) to CPU  Operating System controls the system resources  Directs CPU to store different things in different places to meet your demands  Memory swapping  System speed is also important – expressed in hertz  1 G vs. 3 G – which is faster?

What is Happening??? InputsCPUOutput Entered and Retrieves and ProcessesStores and Delivers Stored until Needed

How is it Happening??? Inputs CPUOutput Data andDirects the dataMonitor Instructions viaand instructions Input MethodComputes 0s and 1sStorage Controls the incoming/ outgoing flow

How is it Traveling? Buses – Electrical Pathways  Size of bus determines the speed and flow  Larger the bus, faster the flow vs.

Who cares?  Getting the right equipment to do your job  Ability to handle a little or a lot at one time  Data entry vs. Database Administrator  More memory swapping means slower speed  More processors will make it work faster

Done!

What’s the difference between a Client and a Server?

Servers  Provide specific functions   Web  File sharing  Large computer  Multiple CPUs  Speed  No/limited video display

Grid vs. Cloud  Grid – network of computers that operates as an integrated whole (appears to be one computer)  Organizations may lease time on a grid from other organizations  Cloud – lease server resources from a vendor that specializes in server processing  Pay for service as you use it  Examples?

What does a professional need to know about software? 4 Major Operating Systems? Categories of Application Systems? How Application Software is acquired?

4 Major Operating Systems  Windows  85 – 95% of world’s computers  Different versions exist – can you name a few?  Mac OS  Used primarily by graphic artists and workers in art community  Leader of easy-to-use interfaces  Unix  Workhorse of scientific community  In general, not for business  Linux  Open source version of Unix  Most frequently used for web servers

Owning or Licensing – what does it mean?

Licensing  Buy a license to use a program  Site license  Used by organizations to allow all to use  Flat fee

Virtualization  Process by which one computer hosts the appearance of many computers  Host operating system  Runs one or more operating systems, called Virtual Machines  PC Virtualization  Server Virtualization  Desktop Virtualization  Why?  Quick configuration  Balance workload  Accessibility

Application Software  Performs a service or function  Horizontal market application software  Common across all industries and organizations  Examples?  Vertical market application software  Serves needs of a specific industry  Examples?  Can be altered or customized  One-of-a-kind application software  Developed for a specific need  Examples?

How do you acquire A/S?  Off the shelf  Know cost immediately  You get what you get  Off the shelf with alterations  Can get it altered to fit better  Custom-developed  Tailor-made

What is firmware?  Installed into devices  Becomes part of the device’s memory  Examples?

Thin vs. Thick Clients  Thin  Requires nothing more than a browser  Thick  Requires code on the client computer  Thin vs. thick – refers to how much code has to run on the users’ pc