Module_6_Study_questions_and_terms

Windows Installation

Repair Installation

• A process that fixes Windows issues while keeping personal files and most settings intact.

• Reinstalls Windows system files without erasing user data, helping restore system functionality without a complete reinstallation.

• Typically used when Windows won’t boot or has serious functionality problems, such as blue screen errors or sudden crashes, allowing users to recover the operating system effectively.

Upgrade Installation

Applied when:

• The current operating system (OS) is compatible with the new version of Windows, ensuring that the upgrade process runs smoothly.

• The user’s hardware meets the minimum requirements set by the newer version of Windows, including processor, memory (RAM), and storage specifications.

• The user wants to retain existing files, applications, and settings, making the transition to the new OS more seamless and preserving data integrity.

Windows Update

• Automatically checks for updates post-installation, ensuring that the system remains secure and up to date.

• Updates can be scheduled or installed based on user settings (automatic for critical updates or manual for optional updates), allowing for flexibility in maintenance.

• Types of updates include:

  • Security updates: Critical patches to fix vulnerabilities and enhance system security.

  • Feature updates: Major enhancements that introduce new functionalities, improving the user experience.

  • Driver updates: Updates for device drivers to improve hardware compatibility and performance.

  • Quality updates: Cumulative improvements and bug fixes for the stability of the OS.

Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing?

• Delivery of computing services over the internet, encompassing a broad range of resources such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics.

• Operates on a pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing users and organizations to pay only for the resources they use.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

• Cost-effective: Reduces the need for upfront hardware investment, as resources and services are hosted off-site.

• Scalable resources: Resources can be scaled up or down based on demand, making it ideal for businesses with fluctuating workloads.

• Automatic updates: Cloud service providers regularly update services, which enhances security and functionality without requiring user intervention.

• Access from anywhere: Users can access data and applications from any location with internet connectivity, promoting remote work and collaboration.

• Built-in disaster recovery: Cloud services often include disaster recovery solutions to protect data against loss or failure.

• Reduced IT maintenance burdens: Less reliance on in-house IT staff to manage and maintain hardware and software, enabling them to focus on strategic tasks.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) vs Software as a Service (SaaS)

• PaaS (Platform as a Service): Provides a development and deployment environment that allows developers to create applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. Users manage applications and data. Example providers include Microsoft Azure and Google App Engine.

• SaaS (Software as a Service): A complete software solution managed entirely by the service provider. Users access the software via subscription without handling installation or maintenance. Examples include Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

Virtualization

Benefits of Virtualization

• Helps provide both legacy and modern software environments to users.

• Creates a virtual environment in which older operating systems can run securely and in isolation, allowing old software to be used on modern hardware.

• Facilitates the ability to run multiple operating system versions on a single machine, maximizing resource efficiency.

Hypervisor

• A crucial software that enables the creation and management of virtual machines (VMs). Hypervisors are responsible for allocating hardware resources between the host operating system and the VMs.

• There are two types of hypervisors:

  • Type 1: Runs directly on hardware, also known as bare-metal hypervisors, providing better performance and scalability.

  • Type 2: Runs on top of an existing operating system, making it easier to use but with potentially reduced performance. This type is often utilized for personal or development purposes.

Enabling Hyper-V

Steps to enable Hyper-V in a Windows environment:

1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.

2. Click "Turn Windows features on or off."

3. Check the "Hyper-V" box to enable virtualization features.

4. Click OK and restart the computer for changes to take effect.

Requirements:

• Must be running Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition.

• CPU must support virtualization technology, which can be enabled in the BIOS/UEFI settings.

• Minimum of 4GB RAM is required for optimal performance when using virtual machines.

Storage Locations

Windows Installation

• The process of setting up the Windows operating system on a computer, which includes partitioning the hard drive and installing necessary files.

Storage Types

• Internal Hard Disks: Standard hard drives that provide ample storage capacity at a lower cost but lack portability and speed in comparison to newer technologies.

• Solid-State Drives (SSD): High-performance internal drives with no moving parts, offering significantly faster read and write speeds, albeit at a higher cost.

• Hot-Swappable Drives: Internal disks designed to be added or removed while the system is operational without disrupting the workflow.

• External Hard Disk Drives: Portable drives that provide additional storage, although their performance may depend on the interface connection (USB, Thunderbolt, etc.).

• RAID Arrays: Configurations that combine multiple drives for enhanced data redundancy, reliability, and combined performance capabilities.

• Disk Imaging: The process of creating a complete duplicate of a hard drive for deployment to multiple systems, which is useful for backup and recovery scenarios.

• Unattended Installation: An automated installation method that uses preset responses to streamline the setup process without manual input.

• ISO File: An archive that contains a complete copy of data from physical media, such as CDs or DVDs, which can be used for installation or distribution.

• PXE Boot: A method of booting a computer using a network interface card (NIC) to load an operating system from a remote server, essential in networked environments.

Recovery and Cloud Computing Concepts

Recovery Drive

• A partition specifically used to recover a PC that won’t start properly, providing tools and options to reset or restore the system.

Cloud Computing Definitions

• Public Cloud: Services that are available to the general public, typically hosted and managed by third-party service providers.

• Private Cloud: Services dedicated to a single organization, affording them greater control over their data and resources compared to public options.

• Hybrid Cloud: A combination of public and private clouds that enables data and applications to be shared between them, enhancing flexibility and deployment options.

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, allowing users to manage infrastructure without owning physical hardware.

• Container Virtualization: A lightweight virtualization approach that allows applications to run in isolated environments (containers) on the same operating system kernel, increasing efficiency.

• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): Centralized hosting of desktop environments, allowing users to access desktops remotely.

• Sandbox Virtualization: An isolated testing environment where software can be executed without affecting other parts of the system, useful for development and testing purposes.