Computing Overview

Question 1

Overall, computing is what?

Answer 1

Evolving

Question 2

What are some computer types?

Answer 2

There are supercomputers, embedded computers (like in printers), net books, tablets, smart phones, personal computers, etc

Question 3

What is a PC?

Answer 3

A personal computer designed for personal purposes such as gaming, working, or browsing the internet.

Question 4

Describe the personal computer system (PC):

Answer 4

Generally consists of a computer with CPU cores, memory, and I/O interface receiving and outputting information in the middle of the system. The devices surrounding this computer center in this system and inputting and outputting info are usually: network and wifi interfaces, a keyboard, a mouse/touchpad/touchscreen, monitor/display, video camera, speaker, USB interface, printer, hard disk/solid state drive SSD/flash memory

Question 5

Components of a computer system:

Answer 5

The computer hardware, the software, and the data that is being manipulated and processed. Same for any type of a computer.

Question 6

What’s a fourth component of a computer system?

Answer 6

Communication: hardware and software that transport programs and data between interconnected computer systems

Question 7

What is distributed computing?

Answer 7

The concept that it’s easy to transfer data between diff systems since all computers operate simultaneously.

Question 8

What is open computing?

Answer 8

The fact diff computers can work together, share files, and successfully communicate.

Question 9

What is hardware?

Answer 9

Provides physical mechanisms to input and output data, manipulate and process data, electronically control data, output, and storage components

Question 10

What is CPU

Answer 10

The central processing unit - performs calculations and other operations. It interprets, processes, and executes instructions and delivers the results to the associated output. Brain of a computer. There are typically one or more CPUs (cores) operating within a computer.

Question 10

What forms the hardware part of a computer system?

Answer 10

The CPUs, memory, all the input, output, and storage devices (basically all the devices listed in 4.)

Question 11

What is memory?

Answer 11

Memory holds programs and data WHILE processing is taking place (short term storage). RAM is an example built into computers.

Question 12

What are storage devices?

Answer 12

Meant to hold programs and data long term, permanently. I/O devices such as SSD, hard disks, flash drives, and SD cards.

Question 13

What are the three primary subunits that comprise a CPU?

Answer 13

The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) - arithmetic and boolean logic calculations are completed
The control unit (CU) - controls the processing of instructions and the movement of internal CPU data from one part of it to another
The interface unit - moves and interconnects program data and instructions between the CPU and other hardware components such as memory and other I/O devices. Or between CPUs

Question 14

What connects the CPU, memory, and all the other I/O components within the interface unit?

Answer 14

Buses

Question 15

What are buses?

Answer 15

A bundle of wires that carry signals and powers between different components.

Question 16

What is software?

Answer 16

Consists of the programs and instructions that tell the computer what to do.

Question 17

What are the two major categories of software?

Answer 17

System software - helps manage files, load and execute programs, accept commands.
application software - things like word, zoom, facebook. Programs you run to get your work done (facebook…)

Question 18

What is the operating system?

Answer 18

The system software programs that manage the computer. Windows, linux, iOS, android. Shown in diagram below

Question 19

What is IT infrastructure?

Answer 19

The system of hardware, software, facilities and service components that support the delivery of business systems and IT enables processes. Underneath; all the components underneath a structure, gets smaller depending on what you’re looking at within the structure.

Question 20

Currently the market needs what kind of infrastructures?

Answer 20

Standardized, modular components, and easily scalable + consistent.

Question 21

What’s the issue with today’s IT infrastructure?

Answer 21

It is composed of previous infrastructure from other projects and apps that have to be merged together and are difficult to integrate and interconnect, because they each have their own specialized structures and hardware.

Question 22

What is infrastructure architecture?

Answer 22

The philosophy that underlies a system and defines its purpose, intent, and structure. Many types (business, data, infra, etc), but all aim to map IT solutions to business value.
The fundamental properties and the patterns of relationships, connections, constraints, and linkages among the components and between the system and its environment.

Question 23

Why is infrastructure architecture needed?

Answer 23

To govern infrastructure as it is designed, used, and changed.

Question 24

What is a system?

Answer 24

A system is a collection of components linked together and organized in such a way as to be recognizable as a single unit.

Question 25

What is a subsystem?

Answer 25

Components of the system that may be representable as systems themselves.

Question 26

What does a systems architect do?

Answer 26

Coordinates the different efforts in a system, works with each subsystem. It is their responsibility to assess the particular needs of an organization and create a system that meets those needs while attempting to achieve a balance of computer power, network capability, user convenience, and budget. So they must consider every aspect of the system to do this.

Question 27

Systems architects use what approach?

Answer 27

Top down approach to a system

Question 28

What are the three types of architects according to Laan text?

Answer 28

Solution, domain, and enterprise

Question 29

Solution architects:

Answer 29

Create IT solutions

Question 30

Domain architects:

Answer 30

Experts on a particular business or tech topic, help customers with implementation

Question 31

Enterprise architects:

Answer 31

Continuously align an organization's entire IT landscape with the business activities of the org, enable transformations of the IT landscape

Question 32

What are standards?

Answer 32

Agreements among interested parties, often manufacturers, to assure that various system components will work together interchangeably. They make it possible to build a computer with components from different suppliers.

Question 33

Standards apply to what aspects of computing?

Answer 33

EVERY aspect, hardware, software, data, and communications, and much more

Question 34

What are protocols?

Answer 34

Protocols define the specific agreed-upon sets of ground rules that make it possible for a communication to take place. They exist for communications between computers, between I/O devices and a computer, and between many software programs. Rules that make it possible for communication to take place.

Question 35

What is HTTP?

Answer 35

Hypertext Transfer Protocol, facilitates communication between web servers and web browsers on the internet.