IS Infrastructure: IS Infrastructure:

Hardware and Software Hardware and Software

IS Infrastructure: IS Infrastructure:
Hardware and Software Hardware and Software
STUDENT LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
What are the components of IT infrastructure?
What are the major computer hardware, data
storage, input, and output technoIogies used in
business?
What are the major types of computer software
used in business?
What are the most important contemporary
hardware and software trends?
What are the principaI issues in managing
hardware and software technoIogy?
STUDENT LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Cars.com's IS Infrastructure Drives Rapid
Business Growth
ProbIem: Cars.com's
information systems
unabIe to keep pace
with site's expIosive
growth.
SoIutions: use IBM
storage technoIogy to
reduce infrastructure
spending and conserve
space.
Cars.com's IS Infrastructure Drives Rapid
Business Growth
IBM's WebSphere appIication server heIped reduce
data center costs and IBM RationaI software heIps
programmers rapidIy design, deveIop, and test Java
appIications.
Demonstrates IT's roIe in standardizing technoIogy
and managing infrastructure.
IIIustrates digitaI technoIogy's roIe cutting costs and
increasing resource utiIization rates.
Cars.com's IS Infrastructure Drives Rapid
Business Growth
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
IT infrastructure: provides platform for supporting all
information systems in the business
Computer hardware
Computer software
Data management technoIogy
Organizes, manages, and processes business data concerned
with inventory, customers, and vendors
Networking and teIecommunications technoIogy
TechnoIogy services
E.g., consultants for systems integration with legacy systems
Infrastructure Components Infrastructure Components
IT Infrastructure Components IT Infrastructure Components
A firm's IT infrastructure is
composed of hardware,
software, data management
technoIogy, networking
technoIogy, and technoIogy
services.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Computers come in different sizes with varying
capabiIities for processing information.
FLOPS (Floating point operations per second) Unit of
measurement
Smartphones, netbooks, e-book readers
PCs
Workstations
More powerful mathematical and graphics-processing
capabilities than a PC
Types of Computers Types of Computers
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Servers:
Type of midrange computer.
Support computer network, sharing files and resources.
Provide hardware platform for e-commerce.
Mainframes:
Large-capacity, high-performance computer that can process
large amounts of data very rapidly
E.g., used by airlines for thousands of reservations per second
Types of Computers Types of Computers
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Supercomputer:
More sophisticated computer used for tasks requiring
extremely rapid and complex calculations with thousands of
variables, millions of measurements
Used in engineering, scientific simulations, military/weapons
research, weather forecasting
Flight Simulator with full aircraft functionality
Grid computing:
Power of geographically remote computers connected into
single network to act as "virtual supercomputer
Types of Computers Types of Computers
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
CIient/server computing:
Form of distributed computing
Splits processing between "clients and "servers
CIients: user point of entry
Servers: store and process shared data and perform network
management activities
Types of Computers Types of Computers
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
CIient/server computing (cont.):
Two-tiered cIient/server architecture
Uses two types of machines
MuItitiered cIient/server architecture (N-tier)
BaIances Ioad of network over severaI IeveIs of servers
E.g., Web servers and appIication servers
Types of Computers Types of Computers
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
CIient/Server Computing CIient/Server Computing
In cIient/server
computing,
computer
processing is
spIit between
cIient machines
and server
machines Iinked
by a network.
Users interface
with the cIient
machines.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
A MuItitiered CIient/Server Network (N A MuItitiered CIient/Server Network (N- -Tier) Tier)
In a muItitiered cIient/server network, cIient
requests for service are handIed by different IeveIs
of servers.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Storage, Input, and Output TechnoIogy Storage, Input, and Output TechnoIogy
Primary secondary storage technoIogies
Magnetic disk:
Hard drives, USB fIash drives
RAID: can package hundreds of drives for massive storage
requirements
OpticaI disks
CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD
Magnetic tape
Storage networking: SANs
Connect muItipIe storage devices on a separate high-speed
network dedicated to storage
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
A Storage Area Network (SAN) A Storage Area Network (SAN)
A typicaI SAN consists of a
server, storage devices,
and networking devices,
and is used strictIy for
storage. The SAN stores
data on many different
types of storage devices,
providing data to the
enterprise. The SAN
supports communication
between any server and the
storage unit as weII as
between different storage
devices in the network.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Storage, Input, and Output TechnoIogy Storage, Input, and Output TechnoIogy
Input devices:
Gather data and convert them into electronic form.
Keyboard
Computer mouse
Touch screen
Optical character recognition
Magnetic ink character recognition
Pen-based input
Digital scanner
Audio input
Sensors
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Storage, Input, and Output TechnoIogy Storage, Input, and Output TechnoIogy
Output devices:
Display data after they have been processed.
Monitor
Printer
Audio output
Information systems coIIect and process
information in one of two ways.
Batch processing: transactions stored for predefined amount
of time, then processed as group
OnIine processing: transactions processed immediately
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Contemporary Hardware Trends Contemporary Hardware Trends
The emerging mobiIe digitaI pIatform
Based on new handheld hardware like cell phones, netbooks,
and tablet computers. A new "platform.
Wireless communications through 4G cell networks and Wi-Fi.
New software apps.
NanotechnoIogy
Creating computer chips and other devices thousands of
times smaller through manipulating individual atoms,
molecules
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
ExampIes of Nanotubes ExampIes of Nanotubes
Nanotubes are tiny
tubes about 10,000
times thinner than a
human hair. They
consist of roIIed up
sheets of carbon
hexagons, have
potentiaI uses as
minuscuIe wires or in
uItrasmaII eIectronic
devices, and are very
powerfuI conductors of
eIectricaI current.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Contemporary Hardware Trends Contemporary Hardware Trends
CIoud Computing:
A model of computing in which firms and individuals obtain
computing resources over the nternet
Cloud infrastructure as a service
Cloud platform as a service
Cloud software as a service
Autonomic computing:
Development of systems that can configure themselves, heal
themselves; e.g., self-updating antivirus software
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
CIoud Computing PIatform CIoud Computing PIatform
In cIoud computing, hardware and software capabiIities are provided as services over the Internet. Businesses and empIoyees have access to
appIications and IT infrastructure anywhere at any time using an Internet-connected device.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Contemporary Hardware Trends Contemporary Hardware Trends
VirtuaIization:
Process of presenting a set of computing
resources so they can be accessed in ways that
are unrestricted by physical configuration or
geographic location
Server virtuaIization: running more than one
operating system at the same time on single
machine.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Read the Interactive Session and then discuss
the foIIowing questions:
What business and sociaI probIems does data center
power consumption cause?
What soIutions are avaiIabIe for these probIems? Which
are the most environment-friendIy?
What are the business benefits and costs of these
soIutions?
ShouId aII firms move toward green computing? Why or
why not?
Interactive Session: Organizations Interactive Session: Organizations
Is Green Computing Good for Business? Is Green Computing Good for Business?
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Contemporary Hardware Trends Contemporary Hardware Trends
MuIticore processors:
ntegrated circuit with two or more processors
Enhanced performance, reduced power
consumption, and more efficient simultaneous
processing of multiple tasks
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
The software that manages and controIs the
computer's activities
PC operating systems and graphicaI user
interfaces
GUIs
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8,
and Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008
UNIX
Linux
Open-source software
Operating System Software Operating System Software
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Interactive Session: TechnoIogy Interactive Session: TechnoIogy
New to the Touch New to the Touch
Read the Interactive Session and then discuss the
foIIowing questions:
What probIems does muItitouch technoIogy soIve?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of
muItitouch interfaces? How usefuI are they? ExpIain.
Describe three business appIications that wouId benefit
from a muItitouch interface.
What peopIe, organization, and technoIogy issues must
be addressed if you or your business were considering
systems and computers with muItitouch interfaces?
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
The Major Types of Software The Major Types of Software
The reIationship among the
system software, appIication
software, and users can be
iIIustrated by a series of nested
boxes. System software-
consisting of operating systems,
Ianguage transIators, and utiIity
programs-controIs access to the
hardware. AppIication software,
incIuding programming
Ianguages and "fourth-
generation" Ianguages, must
work through the system software
to operate. The user interacts
primariIy with the appIication
software.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
AppIication Software and Desktop Productivity TooIs AppIication Software and Desktop Productivity TooIs
AppIication programming Ianguages for business
COBOL
C, C++
Visual Basic: Visual programming language
Fourth-generation Ianguages
Software tools that enable end-users to develop software
applications
Tend to be nonprocedural, may use natural languages
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Categories of Fourth Categories of Fourth- -Generation Languages Generation Languages
TooI Description ExampIe
PC software tooIs General-purpose software packages for
PCs
WordPerfect
Microsoft Access
Query Ianguage Languages for retrieving data stored in
databases or files
SQL
Report generator Specialized tools for creating highly
customized reports
Crystal Reports
Graphics Ianguage Display data from databases in graphic
format
SAS Graph
Systat
AppIication generator Preprogrammed modules to generate
entire applications
FOCUS
QuickBase
AppIication software
package
Software programs that eliminate need
for custom, in-house software
Oracle PeopleSoft HCM
mySAP ERP
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
AppIication Software and Desktop Productivity TooIs AppIication Software and Desktop Productivity TooIs
Software packages and desktop
productivity tooIs
Word processing software
Spreadsheet software
Data management software
Presentation graphics
Software suites
Web browsers
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Spreadsheet Software Spreadsheet Software
Figure 4-8
Spreadsheet software
organizes data into coIumns
and rows for anaIysis and
manipuIation. Contemporary
spreadsheet software
provides graphing abiIities for
a cIear, visuaI representation
of the data in the
spreadsheets. This sampIe
break-even anaIysis is
represented as numbers in a
spreadsheet as weII as a Iine
graph for easy interpretation.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Java:
Operating system-independent, processor-
independent, object-oriented programming Ianguage
AJAX:
AIIows a cIient and server to exchange data behind
the scenes to avoid reIoading a Web page after each
change
Hypertext markup Ianguage (HTML):
Page description Ianguage for specifying how
eIements are pIaced on a Web page and for creating
Iinks to other pages and objects
Software for the Web: Java, AJAX, and HTML Software for the Web: Java, AJAX, and HTML
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
How DoIIar Rent How DoIIar Rent- -A A- -Car Uses Web Services Car Uses Web Services
DoIIar Rent-A-Car uses Web
services to provide a
standard intermediate Iayer
of software to "taIk" to
other companies'
information systems. DoIIar
Rent-A-Car can use this set
of Web services to Iink to
other companies'
information systems
without having to buiId a
separate Iink to each firm's
systems.
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Open Source Software
Linux, Apache
CIoud Computing
GoogIe Apps, Office Web Apps
Widgets
AppIe Dashboard, Yahoo! Weather
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaIesforce.com
Software Trends Software Trends
IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware
Managing Hardware and Software
TechnoIogy
Capacity pIanning
Process of predicting when hardware system
becomes saturated
Ensuring firm has enough computing power
for current and future needs
Factors incIude:
Maximum number of users
mpact of current, future software
Performance measures
ScaIabiIity: ability of system to expand to serve large
number of users without breaking down
TotaI Cost of Ownership (TCO) modeI
Used to analyze direct and indirect costs to help determine
the actual cost of owning a specific technology
Direct costs: hardware, software purchase costs
Indirect costs: ongoing administration costs, upgrades,
maintenance, technicaI support, training, utiIity, and reaI
estate costs
Hidden costs: support staff, downtime, additionaI network
management
TCO can be reduced through increased centralization,
standardization of hardware and software resources.
Managing Hardware and Software
TechnoIogy
Using technoIogy service providers
Outsourcing
Using external provider to:
Run networks.
Host, manage Web site(s).
Develop software (offshore software
outsourcing).
Manage T infrastructures.
Requires Service LeveI Agreements (SLAs)
Managing Hardware and Software
TechnoIogy
Using cIoud services
SmaII businesses "rent" infrastructure from another
firm to avoid expenses of maintaining hardware and
software on their own.
Off-Ioading peak demand to remote data centers
Managing mobiIe pIatforms
BaIancing gains in productivity from using mobiIe devices
with expenses of equipping empIoyees with these devices
TCO for wireIess devices ranges from $1,000 to $3,000
Managing Hardware and Software
TechnoIogy
Managing software IocaIization for gIobaI
business
Local language interfaces
English not typically standard at middle, lower levels
nterfaces are complex: menu bars, error messages,
online forms, search results, and so on
Differences in local cultures
Differences in business processes
All of these factors add to TCO of using technology
service providers
Managing Hardware and Software
TechnoIogy
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