CNIS 3050 CHAPTER 3

James Morgan

02/04/2015

Dr. Wood

CINS 3050

Question 3 Review Q&A

1. Hardware is classified into what major types?

input processing output technologies

2. In one paragraph, explain how a computer works.

First the computer’s central processing unit loads the operating system with formulas and transmits instructions. Next the input is received and digitized into a binary code, which is handled by the CPU. The CPU uses a whole group of tiny transistors, which uses temporary storage until it is either presented, permanently stored, or the unit turned off.

3. Describe the difference between systems software and application software.

Systems software is used to manage and run the operation of the computer whereas application software lets users perform specific tasks for home, school, and business use. Most systems software is preloaded when a computer is purchased while application software can be pre-loaded and most often purchased by the user for specific tasks.

4. How is quality in open source software ensured?

Answer:A very large user base insures fixes to problems encountered and posted as well as helping to maintain the integrity of the code provided. If posts are made that are not accurate, there are usually many follow-up posts that correct the postings made.

5. Describe the different types of computers and their key distinguishing characteristics.

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1. Supercomputer- # of Simultaneous Users: One to many/ Physical Size: Like an automobile to as large as multiple rooms/ Typical Use: Scientific Research/Memory: 5,000+/Typical Cost Range: Low-$1,000,000-Higher- $20,000,000

2. Mainframe-# of Simultaneous Users: 1,000+/ Physical Size: Like a refrigerator/ Typical Use: Large general-purpose business and government/Memory: Up to 1500+ GB/Typical Cost Range: Low-$500,000- High: $10,000,000

3. Server--# of Simultaneous Users: 10,000+/ Physical Size: Like a DVD player and mounted in a rack to fitting on a desktop/Typical Use: Providing Web sites or access to databases, applications, or files/ Memory: Up to 512 GB/Typical Cost Range Low: $300- High: $50,000

4. Workstation-# of Simultaneous Users: Typically One/ Physical Size: Fitting on a desktop to the size of a file cabinet/Typical Use: Engineering, medical, graphic design / Memory: Up to 192 GB /Typical Cost Range Low:$750 High:$100,000

5. Microcomputer -# of Simultaneous Users: One/ Physical Size: Handheld to fitting on a desktop/Typical Use Personal productivity / Memory: 512 MB to 4 GB /Typical Cost Range Low: $200- High $5,000

6. For which purposes are data stored in organizations?

Answer: Data and information are important assets of a business and must be protected. All transactions of a business are recorded as data within a computer. Once recorded, this data can be processed into useful information to allow businesses to make informed business decisions to remain profitable. This also allows businesses to store this data in safe places so that in the event of a disaster the business is able to recover any data temporarily lost and continue operations.

7. How does computer networking work?

Answer:All computer networks require the following:

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Information Systems Today, 5th Edition, Instructor’s Manual 3

1. Information is needed to share between a sender and receiver. This means you must have both a sending device and a receiving device.

2. A transmission medium is needed. This is the physical pathway for the messages to be sent (could be cable or wireless).

3. Rules or protocols (standards) must be followed that allow for those communications to be passed.

8. What are the major types of networks?

Answer:

Type Usage SizePrivate Branch Exchange (PBX)

Telephone system serving a particular location

Within a business

Personal Area Network (PAN)

Wireless communication between devices, using technologies such as Bluetooth

Under 10 meters

Local Area Network (LAN)

Sharing of data, software applications, or other resources between several users

Typically within a building

Campus Area Network (CAN)

Connect multiple LANs, used by single organization

Spanning multiple buildings, such as a university or business campus

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Connect multiple LANs, used by single organization

Larger then LAN or CAN, such as covering the area of a city

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Connect multiple LANs, distributed ownership and management

Large physical distance, up to worldwide (Internet)

9. What is the World Wide Web, and what is its relationship to the Internet?

Answer: The World Wide Web (WWW) is a system of interlinked documents on the Internet, or a graphical user interface to the Internet that provides users with a simple, consistent interface to a wide variety of information.

10. What are URLs, and why are they important to the World Wide Web?

Answer:A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is used to identify and locate a particular Web page. URLs are important to the Web, as they give users an easy way to navigate to particular Web pages, without having to remember numeric IP addresses.

11. What are the problems associated with software obsolescence?


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Answer:Problems associated with software obsolescence include the need for new hardware at times, incapability of older application software to the new system software, reluctance of users in switching to new software, and products that may have been designed to certain life spans without the capability to work with newer upgrades.

12. Describe the characteristics of the cloud computing model.

Characteristics of cloud computer include:1. On demand self-services: computer services such as email, applications,

network or server service can be provided without requiring human interaction with each service provider.

2. Rapid Elasticity— Cloud services can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and rapidly released to quickly scale in.

3. Measured Service— Cloud computing resource usage can be measured, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.

4. Resource Pooling— The provider’s computing resources are pooled together to serve multiple consumers using multiple-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.

13. What is the difference between SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS?

Software as a Service is an application provided via a cloud infrastructure. Software as a Service, software distribution model in which the software is hosted by a service provider and licensed for the use by the user. The Platform as a Service allows the user to run their own applications. Infrastructure as a Service is a form of cloud computing that provides virtualized computing resources over the Internet, which allows basic skills of processing, storage, and networking.

14 Define grid computing and describe its advantages and disadvantages.


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Grid computing is a collection of computers, often geographically dispersed, that are coordinated to solve a common problem. The primary advantages of grid computing are relatively low costs, and the flexibility to use a grid for large-scale computing problems and for multiple, concurrent, smaller problems. A disadvantage would be the difficulty of managing computing grids, but mainly heterogeneous grids.

15. Describe what is meant by the term “IP convergence.”

IP convergence is the use of the Internet Protocol for transporting voice, video, fax, and data traffic, which allows enterprises to make use of new forms of communication and collaboration as well as outdated forms of communication at a much lower costs.

16. Describe why green computing has become so important to modern organizations.

Green computing has become so important to modern organizations because of the large increase in the demand for and cost of energy, which has been an influence on public issues. Green computing can save money on energy usage, waste disposal, and carbon taxes.


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CNIS 3050 CHAPTER 3