L_L Chapter 5

IT infrastructure

Provides a platform for supporting all information systems in a business.

Personal Computer (PC)

A versatile computer used by individuals; comes in forms like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.

Mainframe

A large-capacity, high-performance computer that processes large amounts of data rapidly and supports many users.

Supercomputer

A highly sophisticated computer capable of performing extremely complex computations rapidly, used in fields like scientific research.

Grid Computing

A technology that connects geographically remote computers to act as a virtual supercomputer.

Primary Storage

Part of the computer that temporarily stores program instructions and data currently in use, such as RAM.

Secondary Storage

Long-term, nonvolatile storage of data outside the CPU, including flash memory, magnetic disks, and optical disks.

Virtualization

A technology that allows multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine, improving utilization and reducing costs.

Cloud Computing

A model of computing where resources and applications are obtained over the Internet through various service types.

Green Computing

Practices aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of computer hardware through efficient design and resource management.

System Software

Generalized programs that manage computer resources, including operating systems and utility programs.

Application Software

Programs designed for specific user tasks, including desktop productivity tools and programming languages.

Open Source Software

Software for which the source code is available for public use and modification.

Capacity Planning

The process of predicting when a computer system will become overloaded to ensure sufficient computing power.

Scalability

The ability of a system to expand and serve a larger number of users without performance degradation.

Total Cost of Ownership (TOC)

The total cost associated with owning technology resources, including purchase, maintenance, and training costs.

Client/Server Computing

A model that splits processing between client devices and servers over a network.

N-tier Architecture

A structure that balances load across multiple server levels for improved performance and management.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

A policy allowing employees to use their personal devices for work-related activities.

Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Services providing computing resources like processing and storage over the Internet.

Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software applications that are accessed via the Internet and provided by a cloud service provider.