Computer Fundamentals

Q.1 write a short note on ROM

Ans. Read-Only Memory (ROM), is a type of electronic storage that comes built in to a device during
manufacturing. You’ll find ROM chips in computers and many other types of electronic products; VCRs,
game consoles, and car radios all use ROM to complete their functions smoothly. ROM chips come built
into an external unit – like flash drives and other auxiliary memory devices – or installed into the device’s
hardware on a removable chip. Non-volatile memory like ROM remains viable even without a power
supply.

What Does ROM Do?

ROM stores “firmware,” which is permanent software that’s hard-wired with integrated circuits. The
manufacturer fits a specifically designed ROM chip into a device during the building process.

Unlike the non-volatile memory of a hard drive, it’s diffi cult and time-consuming to rewrite a ROM chip’s
memory. In most cases, it’s impossible to alter integrated circuits, which may mean you can’t update
more basic forms of ROM. You may be able to reprogram some modern types of ROM, but only at slow
speeds and with special equipment. These hurdles make traditional ROM poorly-suited for functions that
require frequent feature updates or are prone to bugs or security issues.

Q.2 what are topologies

Ans. The term Network Topology defines the geographic Physical or logical arrangement
of computer networking devices . The term Topology refers to the way in which the various nodes or computers
of a network are linked together. It describes the actual layout of the computer network hardware. Two or more
devices connect to a link; two or more links form a topology. Topology determines the data paths that may be
used between any pair of devices of the network.
The selection of a Network Topology for a network can not be done in isolation as it affects the choice of media
and the access method used. Because it determines the strategy used in wiring a building for a network and
deserves some careful study.
 While making a selection of a particular topology we consider the relative status of different devices that are to
be linked.

• The nodes in a network can have following two relationships:

1. Peer to Peer: In this relationship, all the devices in the network have equal status in sharing the link. For
example, Ring & Mesh topology.
2. Primary-Secondary: In this, one device controls the traffic and all other devices transmit through primary
device. e.g. Star topology.
Basic Network Topology
The three simple Topology that are combined to form a basic Network Topology. They are, Bus Topology, Ring and
Star Topology.

Q.3 What is URL

ANS. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator that identifies a particular Internet resource. URL help the user to
locate web page, gopher service, library catalog and image or text file locations. URLs are the standard addressing
system of the www. A complete URL provides the web client with all the information it needs to contact a server
and make a request for information. URLs are divided into three basic parts:
Example: https://www.ecomputernotes.com/software
a. Protocol (http://) – The information appearing before the colon in any URL indicates the type of information
server or protocol. For example http:// indicates that the server to be connected is a www server.
b. Domain name (www.ecomputernotes.com) – The second piece of information is the address of the server. In
this example ecomputernotes.com is the name of the machine at PS Exam in world wide web.
c. Resource name (software.htm) – The third piece of information is the path to the actual document requested. In
this example the URL indicates that the document in the system directory and is named software.htm.

Q.4 Define the various generations of Computers.

Ans. Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being used. Initially, the
generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies. Nowadays, generation includes
both hardware and software, which together make up an entire computer system.
There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been discussed in detail along with their
time period and characteristics. In the following table, approximate dates against each generation has been
mentioned, which are normally accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers.
First Generation
1
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.

Second Generation
2
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.

Third Generation
3
The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.

Fourth Generation
4
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.

Fifth Generation
5
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor based.
Q.5 What is an Operating System?

Ans. An Operating System (OS) is an interface between a computer user and computer hardware. An
operating system is a software which performs all the basic tasks like file management, memory
management, process management, handling input and output, and controlling peripheral devices such
as disk drives and printers.
Some popular Operating Systems include Linux Operating System, Windows Operating System, VMS,
OS/400, AIX, z/OS, etc.
Definition
An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between the user and the computer
hardware and controls the execution of all kinds of programs.
Following are some of important functions of an operating System.
Memory Management
Processor Management
Device Management
File Management
Security
Control over system performance
Job accounting
Error detecting aids
Coordination between other software and users