Hardware Software

Question 1

MIP (Millions of Instructions Per Second)

Answer 1

-used with mainframes
-measures performance of computer running application software
-does not take into account input/output speed
-Measured in millions
-can be used with integers

Question 2

FLOPS (Floating Point Operations Per Second)

Answer 2

Used with supercomputer
-measured in quadrillions and higher
-used with real or floating point numbers
-used where complex calculations need to be carried out
-does not take into account cpu clock speed, bus speed and amount of RAM

Question 3

Driver

Answer 3

system software that allows computer to interact with a device
handles translation of request between device and computer
it operates a device attached to the computer

Question 4

Translator

Answer 4

translates program written in high level programming language to machine code computer can understand

Question 5

Compiler

Answer 5

Translates the program as one whole unit at once
Translates the program into machine code
creates a executable file
Produces a report of errors in the code after compiling
can optimize source code

Question 6

Interpreter

Answer 6

translates a high level program to intermediate stage
translates a line of source code then executes that line
reports errors as the lines are processed
only a few lines have to be in memory at a time
interpreter has to be resident in memory in order for program to run

Question 7

Linker

Answer 7

combines object files that have been created by compiler into a executable file
Linker can link modules from a common library file into the executable file
Replace symbolic addresses with real addresses

Question 8

Anti virus

Answer 8

-scans computer to make sure isn’t infected with virus
-Can scan whole disk or individual files
-Can be set up to scan automatically
-Reports results of scan to user
-Quarantines infected programs

Question 9

Custom written software adv / dis

Answer 9

-expensive
-takes long time to develop
-requirements can be precisely met with no unnecessary features
-will ensure compatible with hardware, software, data
-can get direct support from developer

Question 10

Off the shelf software (anyone can buy) adv/dis

Answer 10

-cheaper as cost is spread between many people
-immediately available
-may not have all features needed
-may have unnecessary features
-may not be fully compatible with computer system

Question 11

Proprietary software

Answer 11

-Owned by copyright holder
-uses must purchase a license
-almost always restrictions on use of software
-source code is a secret
-terms of use is covered in end user license agreement
-usually covered by copyright providing a legal basis for its owner to establish rights

Question 12

Open source software

Answer 12

usually free to download
can be used by anyone
source code is open to inspection
can sometimes be changed without breach of copyright

Question 13

Advantages of CLI

Answer 13

-Uses less memory
-Does not use as much CPU processing time
-Cheaper monitor can be used
-only needs keyboard so faster than other interfaces

Question 14

Disadvantages of CLI

Answer 14

-typing commands is slow for inexperienced users
-difficult to view different items when multitasking
-more likely to make mistakes when typing commands (complicated needs specific syntax)
-Large number of commands to be learned

Question 15

Disadvantages of GUI

Answer 15

Take up larger amount of hard disk space
Need significantly more RAM to run ( simpler gui can be used)
More processing power than other interfaces
Slow for experienced programmers

Question 16

Advantages of GUI

Answer 16

Easy to use for beginners (intuitive)
Don’t have to learn complicated commands

Question 17

Dialogue-based user interface adv

Answer 17

useful for people with disabilities
Useful for people with sight loss
Do not need close proximity
Works in low visibility

Question 18

Gesture-based user interface adv/dis

Answer 18

It is possible for unintentional movement to be picked up.
Only works near the camera or sensor
May only accept a limited number of movements
Good for disabled
can get tired
need highly accurate sensors

Question 19

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Answer 19

makes use of pictures, graphics and icons
Uses WIMP (windows icons menu and pointing device)

Question 20

backup software

Answer 20

-creates additional copies of files
-backed up files are still available if computer is corrupted
-can happen automatically
-can use copies to restore original contents if computer is corrupted
-asks frequency of back ups

Question 21

File management tools

Answer 21

to organize dirrectories
to delete unnecessary files

Question 22

Disk defragmentation software

Answer 22

reorganises contents of disk into smallest number of contiguous regions
files are able to be opened more quickly
data blocks of a file are moved around to bring whole file together

Question 23

Uses of mainframe computer

Answer 23

• census
  – transaction processing
  – industry statistics
  – consumer statistics

Question 24

Uses of super computers

Answer 24

– weather forecasting
– climate research
– quantum mechanics

Question 25

RAS ( reliability, accessibility, serviceability ) for mainframe computer

Answer 25

Describes durability of mainframe computer Reliability is chance of system behaving as intended Accessibility refers to mainframe being operational at all times Serviceability means it can be easily fixed in a short time

Question 26

How is mainframe reliable

Answer 26

System will use alternative methods to carry out task if failure System software is reliable since it has been extensively tested

Question 27

How is mainframe accessible

Answer 27

Mean time between failures is quite long for mainframes Mainframes give months/years between system downtime mainframe is unavailable for a very short time Spare component are often included so if one component fails another can take over

Question 28

How is mainframe serviceable

Answer 28

Mainframe can determine why a failure occurred Can be serviced while system is still running Hardware and software components can be replaced without effecting mainframe operations (hot swappable)

Question 29

utility software

Answer 29

– anti-virus – back-up – data compression – disk defragmentation (including understanding the structure of hard disk storage) – formatting (including low-level, partitioning and high-level) – file management systems – data compression utilities

Question 30

How supercomputer used for modeling

Answer 30

Complex models are created Vast number of calculations carried out Vast amount of data is collected Data is gathered by sensors (state sensor or data) Data is input into the model Software makes predictions based on past patterns Selects most likely condition

Question 31

Dialogue based interface disadv

Answer 31

may not operate reliably with background noise commands must be in certain format Can be language dependent Verbal input can be heard by others so exposes personal info needs to learn users speech pattern reduced privacy

Question 32

compiler adv

Answer 32

-Only needs to compile once -Improves security for programmers by -making it harder to copy code -runs faster than interpreted software -converts all the code at once -once program is complied no need to keep translation software up to date

Question 33

compiler disadv

Answer 33

can only be used on OS it was complied on difficult to debug program whole program needs to be re complied if error is corrected takes up more memory than interpreter as whole program must be loaded

Question 34

Disk formatting

Answer 34

prepares a data storage medium for initial use allows OS to use disk space to store and access files low level formatting divides disk surface into sectors High level formatting creates a file system on disk tracks are numbers starting from 0 each track is organized into numbered sectors starting at 1 and separated by gaps

Question 35

Data compression

Answer 35

frees up storage space by reducing file size lossless compression removes meta data ( no info is lost) lossy compression reduces number of bits by identifying unnecessary information files compressors remove redundancy

Question 36

Mainframe security and characteristics

Answer 36

RAS -has peripheral processors to deal with input and ouput so cpu can concentrate on processing of data -Mainframe computer deal with high volume of input and ouput -Mainframes have a fast rate of processing -uses different layers of access, what user can access depends on users level of security -data transmitted within system is encrypted so are more secure than other computer systems

Question 37

anti virus disadv

Answer 37

has to be purchased needs to kept up to date as there are always new viruses background scans can slow down computer takes up space on hard drive can only delete whole file that is infected

Question 38

linker adv

Answer 38

program can be written in modules whole program and compiler don't need to be in memory at same time -which uses less RAM (saves money) if there is error on code only that module has to be corrected

Question 39

linker disadv

Answer 39

variable names can cause problems as the same variable may have been given different names in different modules documentation has to be more detailed so takes longer to write

Question 40

OS tasks

Answer 40

manages hardware/software resources Interacts with device drivers responds to input devices sends data to output devices manages files opens and closes files allocates memory to software

Question 41

supercomputer

Answer 41

can have more than 100,000 cores uses massive parallel processing each core has their own operating system uses more than 1 gpu more powerful than mainframes can be 1000 times faster more expensive then mainframe

Question 42

mainframe computer

Answer 42

can have hundreds of cores all cores share 1 os use parallel processing can process large number of small tasks at same time

Question 43

how to cool mainframe or super computer

Answer 43

Air cooling is expensive uses lots of power Water cooler is more cost effective More data centres are being made in cooler part of world

Question 44

Parts of HDD

Answer 44

track read write head sector cylinder surface platter

Question 45

cross compiler

Answer 45

compiles program for different os used on the native computer more mistakes than native compiler runs slower than if originally compiled on target machine program will no longer run on computer it was written on

Question 46

deleting file

Answer 46

removes the file name and address from a table which stores data about the file the space on the disk where that file was located is now available for future use by other files moving a file to trash change directory path to indicate it is temporarily deleted only when file is deleted from trash it is removed from table and space can be reused