Hardware, Software, + Servers

instruction phase

fetch instruction, decode instruction

execution phase

execute instruction, store results

multicore processor

two or more independent processing units

cores sequence + executes instructions

processor generates heat

clock speed

series of electronic pulses

produced at a preddetermined rate

governs speed at which steps are completed

gigahertz (GHz)

measures clock speed

one billion cycles per secondm

manufacturing processors → integrated circuit (IC)/chip

set of electronic circuits on one small of semi conductor material (normally silicon), can be extremely small

manufacturing processors → semiconductor fabrication plant

called fa/foundry, factory where integrated circuits are manufactured, use extreme uv lithography (EUVL) process, extremely expensive to set up

multiprocessing

simultaneously execute two or more instructions

co-processors

one processor executes specific instruction types while CPU work on another processing activity

parallel processing

simultaneously execute the same task on multiple processors

massively parallel processing systems

link hundreds of processors

grid computing

coordinated computers, owned by multiple individuals/organizations

solves a common problem, low-cost approach to parallel processing

central server is key

divides computing tasks into subtasks, assigns work to grid computers, monitors processing

main memory

repidly provides working storage to CPU, data storage in memory

used for program instructions + data

random access memory (RAM)

memory where instructions/data can be temporarily stored, volatile storage, mounted directly on main circuit board, many varieties

statistic random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), double data route synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM)

cache memory

high-speed memory, processor can access more rapidly than main memory

read-only memory

nonvolatile memory providing permanent storage for data + instructions that do not change

programmable read-only memory (PROM)

holds data + instructions that can never be changed

electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM)

user-modifiable read-only data, can be erased + reprogrammed repeatedly through the application of higher than normal electrical voltage

secondary storage

stores large amounts of data, instructions, + information

more permanent than main memory, less expensive than primary memory

not directly accessible by CPU

secondary storage devices

magnetic tape, hard disk drive (HDD), redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks (RAID), virtual tape

solid state storage device (SSD)

stores data in memory chips, uses less power + provides faster data access, no moving parts

input/output devices

allows interactions with a computer system

common personal comuter input devices (keyboard + computer mouse)

optical data readers

special scanning device to scan documents (optimal mark recognition (OMR), optical character recognition (OCR))

bar code scanners

laser scanner reads a bar code lavel, may be stationary/handheld

radio frequency identification (RFID)

microchip with an antenna broadcasrs its unique identifier to reciever (transmits data to a tag, tag read by an RFID reader and processed)

output devices

computer graphics card, graphics processing unit (GPU), printers, 3D printer

portable computers

small enough to carry easily (laptops, smartphones, notebooks, tablets)

non-portable (single user)

thin clients (low-cost, centrally managed computers, no internal/external attatched drives for data storage) + desktop computers + nettop computers + work stations

server

computer employed by many users for a specific task, scalable (web server, enterprise server, file server)

mainframe

backward capability (run decades old software), shared by many concurrent users

supercomputers

special purpose machines designed for applications requiring extensive + rapid computational capacities

quantum computers

based on qubits, follow quantum physics principless

server farm

large number of server in the same roam, access to machine can be controlled

blade server

houses many individual computer motherboards (contain 1+ processors, computer memory, computer storage, network connections)

data center

climate + access controlled building or a set of buildings, houses the computer hardware that delivers an organization data + IS

green computing

efficient + environmentally responsible design, manufacture, operation, + disposal of IT related products (includes all types of computing devices)

electronic production environmental assessment tool (EPEAT)

ranking system based n 51 environmental criteria, three tiers (bronze, silver, gold)

system software

includes operating systems, utilities, + middleware, coordinates the activities + functions of the hardware + other programs throughout the computer system

application software

consists of programs that help users solve computing problems

operating system (OS)

set of programs controlling a computers hardware, interface with application software

kernal

heart of the OS controlling critical processes, ties OS components together, regulates other programs

server virtualization

logically dividing a single physical servers resources to create multiple logical servers, virtual machine acts as its own dedicated machine

hyper-visor

virtual server program that controls the host processor + resources, allocates the necessary resources to each virtual machine, + ensures that they do not disrupt each other

embedded systems

computer system implanted in + dedicated to the control of another device

utility programs

perform a variety of tasks typically related to system matinence or problem correction

middleware

provides messaging services, lies between OS + applications running on it

service oriented architecture (SOA)

discrete modules provide specific functions to applicationsa

application programming interfaces (API)

set of programming instructions + standards, micro services can interact via APIs

propriety software

one of a kind, designed for a specific application + individual company/org/person, can give a company a competitive advantage

off the shell softeware

produced by software vendors to address needs that are common across businesses, orgs, or individuals

software as a service (SaaS)

third party provider hosts applications (become availale to subscribers over the internet)

advantages → available from any device, provider handles upgrades + patches, lower costs for software licensing

programming lanaguages

set of keywords, commands, symbols, + rules for constructing statements

complier

translates programmers source code into the machine-language instructions

integrated development environment

combines the tools required for software engineering into one package

end user license agreement (EULA) legal agreement between the software manufacturer + the user, stiulates the terms of usage

legal agreement between the software manufacturer + the user, stiulates the terms of usage

GNU general public license (GPL)

protects open-source software

disadvantages → support issues, hidden costs