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Computer System Fundamentals and Resources

The document discusses various concepts related to computer systems and distributed systems including: 1. The CPU executes commands given to the computer. 2. RAM is needed for the computer to run programs and applications. 3. A word processing program, scanner, and OCR software are needed to transfer text from paper to a digital document. 4. A flash drive or cloud storage is most suitable for storing and accessing the same material from multiple computers. 5. The operating system manages the computer's resources and allows users and programs to interface with hardware. 6. A user interface allows human-computer interaction, with graphical interfaces being more visual than text-based interfaces. 7.

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Alistair Macota
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182 views2 pages

Computer System Fundamentals and Resources

The document discusses various concepts related to computer systems and distributed systems including: 1. The CPU executes commands given to the computer. 2. RAM is needed for the computer to run programs and applications. 3. A word processing program, scanner, and OCR software are needed to transfer text from paper to a digital document. 4. A flash drive or cloud storage is most suitable for storing and accessing the same material from multiple computers. 5. The operating system manages the computer's resources and allows users and programs to interface with hardware. 6. A user interface allows human-computer interaction, with graphical interfaces being more visual than text-based interfaces. 7.

Uploaded by

Alistair Macota
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

EXERCISES I

1. Which component executes commands given to the computer system?

2. Why does the computer need to have enough RAM (random access memory)?

3. What hardware and software elements of computer system do you need if you want to
transfer a text from a paper document to a word processing program where you can
modify the text?

4. (Imagine) You often use both your computer at home and a computer at the university
for processing the same material. What storage medium is most suitable for your
needs?

5. What is the significance of the operating system for the use of the computer?

6. What is a user interface and what is the different between a text user interface and a
graphical user interface?

7. What does e.g. the character string [Link] describe in terms of the Internet?

8. What is a DNS address and how is it useful to your computer system?

9. Who owns the Internet?

10. Where are web pages stored?

11. How does an e-mail message ‘find’ the correct person?

12. Give five types of hardware resource and five types of data or software resource that
can usefully be shared.

13. World Wide Web as an example to illustrate the concept of resource sharing between
client and server.
a) Explain the resource sharing and roles among Web pages, Web browsers, Web server,
user´s computer and client browser.

14. Suggest how the service can be implemented so as to avoid performance bottlenecks
when the number of users becomes very large.
a) To allow for large numbers of users, the resources should be partitioned amongst
several servers, Names starting with A at server 1, with B at server 2 and so forth.
b) There could be more than one level of partitioning as in DNS.
c) To avoid performance bottlenecks the algorithm for looking up a name must be
decentralized. That is, the same server must not be involved in looking up every name. (A

Ddff
centralized solution would use a single root server that holds a location database that
maps parts of the information onto particular servers).
d) Some replication is required to avoid such centralization. For example: i) the location
data base might be replicated at multiple root servers or ii) the location database might be
replicated in every server.

15. We defined a Distributed System as one in which hardware and software components
located at networked computers communicate and coordinate their actions by passing
messages. What are the implications of defining a Distributed System in this manner?
• Concurrency
components execute in concurrent processes that read and update shared
[Link] coordination.
• No global clock
makes coordination difficult (ordering of events)
• Independent failure of components
“partial failure” & incomplete information
• Unreliable communication
Loss of connection and messages.
• Unsecure communication
Possibility of unauthorised recording and modification of messages
• Expensive communication
Communication between computers usually has less bandwidth, longer
latency, and costs more, than between independent processes on the same computer.

16. Explain what is meant by (distribution) transparency, and give examples of different
types of transparency. Distribution aspects in a system are hidden from users and
applications.
Transparency Description
Access Hide differences in data representation and how a resource is access
Location Hide where a resource is located
Migration Hide that a resource may move to another location
Relocation Hide that a resource may be moved to another location while in use
Replication Hide that a resource is replicated
Concurrency Hide that a resource may be shared by several competitive users
Failure Hide the failure and recovery of a resource

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