CH 5 Notes PDF

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Chapter 5 IT Infrastructure: Hardware & Software 5-1 What are the components of IT infrastructure? -

Data Center: a facility housing computer systems and associated components such as telecommunications, storage, security systems, and backup power supplies

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A firm’s IT infrastructure provides the foundation, or platform, for supporting the information in the business

IT INFRACTRUCTURE COMPONENTS -

IT infrastructure has 5 major components: 1. Computer hardware 2. Computer software 3. Data management technology 4. Networking 5. Technology services

Hardware -

Consists of technology for computer processing, data storage, input, & output.

Software -

Includes both system software and application software

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System Software: manages the resources and activities of a computer

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Application Software: applies the computer to a specific task for an end user, such as processing an order or generating a mailing list

Data Management -

Data Management Software: organizes, manages, & processes business data concerned with inventory, customers, & vendors

Networking -

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

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Includes tech. for running a company’s internal networks, services from telecommunications/telephone services companies, & tech. for running websites & linking to other computer systems through the Internet

Services -

Legacy Systems: generally older transaction-processing systems created for older computers that continue in use to avoid the high cost of replacing or redesigning them.

5-2 What are the major computer hardware, data storage, input, & output technologies used in business and the major hardware trends? -

To be efficient, firms need to match the right computer hardware to the nature of the business challenge WITHOUT overspending nor underspending for the technology

TYPES OF COMPUTERS -

Computers come in an array of sizes with varying capabilities for process information

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Personal Computer (PC): used when working alone or with a few other people in a small business

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Workstation: used for advanced design or engineering work requiring powerful graphics or computational capabilities -Fits on a desktop, but has more powerful math & graphics-processing capabilities than a PC

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Server: used when a business has multiple networked computers or maintains a website -Server computers are spec. optimized to support computer, sharing files, software, peripheral devices (i.e. printers), or network resources -Also provide the hardware platform for e-commerce (electronic).

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Mainframe: a large-capacity, high-performance computer that can process large amounts of data rapidly -Ex: used by airlines to handle thousands of reservations per second

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Supercomputer: specifically designed & more sophisticated used for tasks requiring extremely rapid and complex calculations with thousands of variables, millions of measurements, and thousands of equations. -used in engineering, scientific stimulations, military/weapons research, weather forecasting, etc.

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Grid Computing: involves connecting geographically remote computers into a single network (“virtual supercomputer”) and combining the computational power of all computers on the grid Computer Networks & Client/Server Computing -

Distributed Processing: the use of multiple computers linked by a communications network for processing

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Centralized Processing: all processing is accomplished by one large central computer -much less common than distributed processing

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Client/server Computing: a form of distributed processing that splits processing between clients and servers -Two-tiered & uses 2 types of machines

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Client: the user point of entry for the required function & is normally a desktop or laptop

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Servers store & process shared data & perform network management activities

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Multitiered (N-tier) Client/Server Architects: the work of the entire network is balanced over several levels of servers -Ex: web servers & application servers

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Web Server: will serve a page, at the first level, to a client in response to a request for service

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Application Server: where requests are passed along to if the client requests access to a corporate system (i.e. a product list or price information) -AFTER web server at first level

STORAGE, INPUT, & OUTPUT TECHNOLOGY -

Storage & input & output devices are called peripheral devices because they’re outside the main computer system unit

Secondary Storage Technology -

The principal storage technologies are magnetic disks, optical disc, magnetic tape, & storage networks

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Magnetic disks: the most widely used secondary storage medium -Hard drives, USB flash drives -Solid State Drives (SSDs) have replaced hard drives

-SSDs use an array of semiconductors organized as an internal disk drive -

Optical Discs: use laser technology to store large quantities of data, including sound & images, in a highly compact form -CD-ROM (Compact disc read-only memory): for PCs, 4.75”, stores up to 660 megabytes -CD-RW (CD-ReWritable) -DVD (Digital Video Discs): optical discs with even higher capacity than CD-ROMs (4.7 gigabytes) -DVD-RW

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Magnetic Tape: an older storage tech. used for secondary storage of large quantities of data that are needed rapidly, but not constantly

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Storage Networking -- Storage Area Networks (SANs): connect multiple storage devices on a separate high-speed network dedicated to storage

Input & Output Devices -

Input Devices: gather data and convert them into electronic form for use by computer -Ex: keyboard, computer mouse, touch screen, digital scanner, voice recognition, sensors, etc.

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Output Devices: display data after they have been processed -Monitor -Printer -Audio Output

CONTEMPORARY HARDWARE TRENDS (7) The Mobile Digital Platform -

Used as alternatives to larger computers and PCs Mobile devices & smartphones Netbooks & tablet computers E-book readers

Consumerization of IT and BYOD -

New technology that emerges in consumer markets spreads into business org.s BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): business use of personal mobile devices

Nanotechnology & Quantum Computing -

Nanotechnology: uses individual atoms & molecules to create computer chips and other devices that are thousands of times smaller than current technologies Quantum Computing: uses the principles of quantum physics to represent data and perform operations of these data

Virtualization -

Virtualization: the process of presenting a set of computing resources (i.e. computing power or data storage) so they can all be accessed in ways that are not restricted by physical configuration or geographic location Enables a single physical resource (i.e. a server or a storage device) to appear as multiple logical resources -Ex: a server/mainframe can be configured to run many instances of an operating system so that it acts like many machines

Cloud Computing -

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Cloud Computing: a model of computing in which computer processing, storage, software, & other services can be obtained over a network, primarily the internet Cloud computing has the essential characteristics: 1. On-demand self-service 2. Ubiquitous network access 3. Location-independent resource pooling 4. Rapid elasticity 5. Measured service Cloud computing consists of 3 types of services: 1. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): customers use processing, storage, networking, & other computing resources from cloud service providers to run their information systems 2. Software as a service (SaaS): customers use software hosted by the vendor’s cloud infrastructure & delivers as a service over a network (Ex: Salesforce.com) 3. Platform as a services (PaaS): customers use infrastructure and programming tools supported by the cloud service provider to develop their own applications Public Cloud: owned and maintained by a cloud service provider (i.e. Amazon Web Services) & made available to the public or industry group Private Cloud: operated solely for an organization On-Demand Computing (utility computing): only paying for computing power they actually use Hybrid Cloud: combo of private and public cloud services that remain separate entities

Green Computing -

Green Computing (Green IT): practices & technologies for designing, manufacturing, using, & disposing of computer hardware (i.e. printers, monitors) to minimize environmental impact Key priority: power reduction

High-Performance & Power-Saving Processors -

Multicore Processor: an integrated circuit to which 2 or more processor cores -Enhanced performance & reduced power consumption Power-efficient processors: low power consumption essential in mobile computing

5-3 What are the major types of computer software used in business & the major software trends?

OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE -

Operating System: the system software hat manages and controls the computer’s activities

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The operating system is the computer’s chief manager

PC, Server, & Mobile Operating -

The OS control the way users interact with the computer

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Graphical User Interface (GUI “gooeys”): makes extensive use of icons, buttons, bars, & boxes to perform tasks

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Multitouch: allows you to use one or more fingers to perform special gestures to manipulate lists/objects on screen without using a mouse or keyboard (Ex: iPhone)

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PC Operating Systems: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Windows (Ex: windows 10) Mac (Ex: OSX High Sierra) UNIX Linux (open-source)

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Open Source Software: free software created & updated by a worldwide community of programmers

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Mobile Operating Systems examples: iOS, Chrome, Android

APPLICATION SOFTWARE AND DESKTOP PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS Programming Languages for Business -

Software object: combines data and procedures

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Visual basic: visual programming tool & environment for creating applications that run on Microsoft Word OSs

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Visual Programming Language: allows users to manipulate graphic or iconic elements to create programs (Ex: COBOL)

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Java: an OS-independent, processor-independent, object-oriented programming language created by Sun Microsystems that has become the leading interactive programming environment for the web

Software Packages & Desktop Productivity Tools -

Much of software used in businesses today is not custom programmed, but consists of application software packages & desktop productivity tools

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Software Suites: major desktop productivity tools are bundles together as a software suite (Ex: Microsoft 365)

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Web Browsers: easy-to-use software tools used for displaying web pages & for accessing the web & other internet resources (Ex: internet explorer, firefox, safari, chrome)

HTML & HTML5 -

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML): a page description language for specifying how text, graphics, video & sound are placed on a web page & for creating dynamic links to other web pages & objects

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HTML5: makes it possible to embed images, audio, and other multimedia without processing-intensive add-ons (Ex: Flash)

WEB SERVICES -

Web Services: software components that exchange information with one another using universal Web communication standards & languages

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XML (Extensible Markup Language): THE FOUNDATION TECHNOLOGY FOR WEB SERVICES (1996)

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Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): a collection of services used to build an organization’s software systems

SOFTWARE TRENDS Open Source Software -

Ex: Linux, Apache

Cloud-Based Software Services & Tools -

SaaS (Software as a Service) Ex: Google Docs

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Mashups: customized applications created by companies mixing and matching software components (Ex: you’ve performed a mashup if you’ve ever personalized your FB profile)

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Apps: small specialized software programs that run on the Internet, your computer, or on your mobile phone/tablet & are generally delivered over the internet

5-4 What are the principal issues in managing hardware & software technology? CAPACITY PLANNING & SCALABILITY -

Capacity Planning: the process of predicting when a computer hardware system becomes saturated -Ensures that firm has enough computing power for its current and future needs -Factors: max. number of users, impact of current & future software, performance measures (i.e. minimum response time for transactions)

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Scalability: ability of a system to expand to serve large numbers of users without breaking down

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP (TCO) OF TECHNOMOLGY ASSETS -

Used to analyze direct & indirect costs to help determine the actual cost of owning a specific technology -Direct costs: hardware, software purchase costs -Indirect costs: ongoing admin. costs, upgrades, maintenance, tech. support, training, etc. -Hidden costs: support staff, downtime, additional network management

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TCO can be reduced through increased centralization & standardization of hardware & software resources

USING TECHNOLOGY SERVICE PROVIDERS Outsourcing -

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Outsourcing: using external provider to: 1. Run networks 2. Host/manage websites 3. Develop software outside nation’s borders (offshore software outsourcing) 4. Manage IT infrastructures Requires Service Legal Agreements (SLAs)

Using Cloud Services -

Firms now have the option of maintaining their own IT infrastructures or using cloud-based hardware & software services

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Cloud computing is more appealing to small & medium-sized businesses that lack resources to purchase & own their own hardware & software -small businesses “rent” infrastructure to avoid expenses (hybrid cloud computing model)

MANAGING MOBILE PLATFORMS -

Must balance gains & expenses from productivity from using the devices & equipping employees with these devices -Especially true when companies use ‘BYOD’

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Mobile Device Management (MDM): software that monitors, manages, & secures mobile devices that are deployed across multiple mobile service providers & across multiple mobile operating systems being used in the org....