Unit 2

IT Infrastructure: Hardware
and Software
Introduction
Today’s world is an information-rich world
and it has become a necessity for everyone
to know about computers.
A computer is a machine
(hardware) that receives and processes
data according to the instructions given to
it, and after the data has been processed,
the results of the processing are usually
sent to an output device
Definition of Computer
A computer is an electronic machine that
processes information—in other words,
an information processor: it takes in raw
information (or data) at one end, stores it until it's
ready to work on it, chews and crunches it for a
bit, then spits out the results at the other end.
 All these processes have a name. Taking in
information is called input, storing information is
better known as memory (or storage), chewing
information is also known as processing, and
spitting out results is called output.
Computer
Computer
Functionalities of a Computer

A digital computer carries out the following five functions −

Step 1 − Takes data as input with the help of keyboard
Step 2 − Stores the data/instructions in its memory and uses
them as required.
Step 3 − Processes the data and converts it into useful
information with the help of CPU
Step 4 − Generates the output on Monitor
Step 5 − Controls all the above four steps.
 Hardware Devices
Central Processing Unit: Central processing unit performs the
actual computation or “number crunching” inside any computer.
CPU is a microprocessor made up of millions of transistors, e.g.,
Pentium 4, Athlon etc.
Features:
◦ CPU is considered as the brain of the computer
◦ CPU performs all types of data processing operations.
◦ It stores data, intermediate results and instructions (programs).
◦ It controls the operation of all parts of computer.
Components of CPU:
 Memory or storage unit
 Control Unit
 ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
CPU
CPU
1) Memory and Storage Unit:
This unit can store instructions, data and intermediate results. This unit
supplies information to the other units of the computer when needed. It
is also known as internal storage unit or main memory or primary
storage or Random access memory(RAM).
Its size affects speed, power and capability. Primary memory and
secondary memory are two types of memories in the computer.
Functions of memory unit are:
 It stores all the data and the instructions required for processing.
 It stores final results of processing before these results are released to
an output device.
 All inputs and outputs are transmitted through main memory.
CPU
2) Control Unit:
 This unit controls the operations of all parts of computer but does not
carry out any actual data processing operations.
Functions of this unit are:
 It is responsible for controlling the transfer of data and instructions
among other units of a computer.
 It manages and coordinates all the units of the computer.
 It obtains the instructions from the memory, interprets them, and
directs the operation of the computer.
 It communicates with Input and Output devices for transfer of data or
results from storage.

It does not process or store data .

 
CPU
3) Arithmetic Logic Unit:
 This unit consists of two subsections namely
a) Arithmetic Section: Function of arithmetic
section is to perform arithmetic operations like
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
All complex operations are done by making
repetitive use of above operations.
b) Logic Section: Function of logic section is to
perform logic operations such as comparing,
selecting, matching and merging of data.
 
 Memory:
A memory is just like a brain. Memory is a hardware device
used to store computer programs, instructions and data. The
memory that is internal to the processor is a primary memory
(RAM), and the memory that is external to the processor is a 
secondary memory (Hard Drive).

 Memory can also be categorized on the basis of volatile and

non-volatile memory. Volatile memory is memory that loses
its contents when the computer or hardware device loses
power. RAM (Random Access Memory) is an example of
volatile memory. Non-volatile memory is the memory that
keeps its contents even if power gets lost. EPROM is an
example of non-volatile memory.
Memory
 Memory is primarily of four types
◦ Register
◦ Cache Memory
◦ Primary memory/ Main memory
◦ Secondary memory
Memory
- Registers: Registers are part of CPU. Registers are the smallest data
holding elements that are built into the processor itself. These are
the memory locations that are directly accessible by the processor.
It may hold an instruction, a storage address or any kind of data
such as a bit sequence or individual characters
- Cache Memory: Cache memory is a very high speed semiconductor
memory which can speed up CPU. It acts as a buffer between the
CPU and main memory. It is used to hold those parts of data and
program which are most frequently used by CPU. The parts of
data and programs are transferred from disk to cache memory by
operating system from where CPU can access them.
 Cache memory is faster than main memory.
 It consumes less access time as compared to main memory.
 It stores the program that can be executed within a short period of
time.
 It stores data for temporary use.
Memory
Primary Memory (Main Memory)
 Primary memory is the main memory of computer system.
The instructions that have to be currently executed is copied
to the primary memory because CPU can directly access the
data from primary memory. Accessing data from primary
memory is faster as it is an internal memory and processor
accesses data from primary memory using data bus.
 The primary memory is usually volatile in nature which
means data in primary memory does not exist if not saved,
in case the power failure occurs.
 The primary memory is semiconductor memory and is
more expensive than secondary memory.
 The primary memory capacity is limited in computer and is
always smaller than secondary memory
Characteristics of Main Memory

These are semiconductor memories.

It is known as main memory.
Usually volatile memory.
Data is lost in case power is switched off.
It is working memory of the computer.
Faster than secondary memories.
A computer cannot run without primary
memory.
Secondary Memory
 Secondary memory is an auxiliary
memory of the computer. The data that has to
be permanently stored is kept in secondary
memory. The CPU can not directly access the
data in secondary memory. The data has to be
initially copied to primary memory then only it
can be processed by CPU. Hence, accessing
data from secondary memory is slower. The
secondary memory can be accessed using
the input-output channel.
Characteristic of Secondary
Memory.
 The secondary memory is nonvolatile in nature, which
means that the content of the secondary memory exist even
if the power is switched off. The secondary memory
is magnetic memory or optical memory and it available
at cheaper rates as compared to the primary memory.
 Secondary memory is available in bulk and
always larger than primary memory. A computer can even
work without secondary memory as it an external
memory. The examples of secondary memory are
the hard disk, floppy disk, CD, DVD, etc.
Characteristic of Secondary Memory.

These are magnetic and optical memories.

It is known as backup memory.
It is non-volatile memory.
Data is permanently stored even if power is
switched off.
It is used for storage of data in a computer.
Computer may run without secondary memory.
Slower than primary memories.
Primary Memory vs Secondary Memory
BASIS FOR SECONDARY
PRIMARY MEMORY
COMPARISON MEMORY
Basic Primary memory is directly Secondary memory is
accessible by not directly accessible by
Processor/CPU. CPU.
Altered Name Main memory. Auxiliary memory.
Data Instructions or data to be Data to be permanently
currently executed are stored is kept in
copied to main memory. secondary memory.
Volatility Primary memory is usually Secondary memory is
volatile. non-volatile.
Formation Primary memories are made Secondary memories are
of semiconductors. made of magnetic and
optical material.
 BASIS FOR SECONDARY
PRIMARY MEMORY
COMPARISON MEMORY
Access Speed Accessing data from primary Accessing data from
memory is faster. secondary memory is
slower.
Access Primary memory is accessed Secondary memory is
by the data bus. accessed by input-output
channels.
Size The computer has a small The computer has a
primary memory. larger secondary
memory.

Expense Primary memory is costlier Secondary memory is

than secondary memory. cheaper than primary
memory
Memory Primary memory is an Secondary memory is an
internal memory. external memory.
 Types of Primary Memory
Primary memory can be divided into two types of
memory that are RAM (Random Access Memory) and 
ROM (Read Only Memory).
 RAM is a both read and write memory. The data which
has to be currently processed is kept in RAM which can
be quickly accessed by the CPU. RAM is volatile and
loses data if the power is switched off.
 ROM is a read only memory; its content
can not be altered. It has the instructions that are used
when the system is booted up. ROM is a non-volatile
memory i.e. it retains its content even if the power is
switched off. The types of ROM are PROM
(Programmable read only
memory), EPROM and EEPROM (Electrically
erasable programmable ROM)
Secondary memory
 Secondary memory is an auxiliary memory of the
computer. The data that has to
be permanently stored is kept in secondary memory.
The CPU can not directly access the data in
secondary memory.

 The data has to be initially copied to primary memory

then only it can be processed by CPU. Hence,
accessing data from secondary memory is slower.
The secondary memory can be accessed using
the input-output channel.
Secondary Memory
 The secondary memory is nonvolatile in nature, which
means that the content of the secondary memory exist
even if the power is switched off. The secondary memory
is magnetic memory or optical memory and it available
at cheaper rates as compared to the primary memory.
 Secondary memory is available in bulk and
always larger than primary memory. A computer can
even work without secondary memory as it an external
memory. The examples of secondary memory are
the hard disk, floppy disk, CD, DVD, etc.
Input Technologies
Input technologies allow people and other
technologies to put data into a computer. Different
types of input technologies are listed below:
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Automated teller machine (ATM)
 Bar code scanner
 Joy stick
 Microphone
 Sensor
 Scanner
Output Technologies
The input data in the computer is processed
and generated in the form of Output with
the help of Output Technologies. Different
form of Output Technologies are as
mentioned below:
Monitor
Printer
Voice Output
Software
Software is a set of programs, which is designed
to perform a well-defined function. A program is
a sequence of instructions written to solve a
particular problem. There are two types of
software
◦ System Software
◦ Application Software
System Software
◦ System software are the class of programs that
control and support the computer system and its
information processing activities.
◦ System software are those software which we
can used to control the system and also used to
run applications.
◦ It is further classified as operating system and
utility software.
a. Operating System
 Operating System (OS) is one of the core software
programs that runs on the hardware and makes it usable
for the user to interact with the hardware so that they
can send commands (input) and receive results (output).
 It provides a consistent environment for other software
to execute commands. So we can say that the OS acts at
the center through which the system hardware, other
softwares, and the user communicate. The following
figure shows the basic working of the operating system
and how it utilizes different hardware or resources.
Operating System
◦ B) Utility software: Utility software helps to
analyze, arrange, enhance and maintain the
computer, such as virus protection.
Examples of utility software are
antivirus software, backup software
 Characteristics of System Software
◦ Memory Management -- keeps tracks of primary
memory
◦ Processor Management -- allocates the processor
(CPU) to process and de-allocates processor when it is
no longer required.
◦ Device Management -- keeps track of all devices.
◦ File Management -- performs file management such
that the files in the secondary storage are stored in a
particular sequence, that the files are available when
needed, and they are secured from unauthorized users.
◦ Security -- prevents unauthorized access to programs
and data
◦ Control over system performance -- records delays
between request for a service and from the system.
◦ Interaction with the operators -- Operating System
acknowledges action of the operators and informs the
operation by a display screen.
 Application Software
◦ Application software, or simply applications, are often
called productivity programs or end-user programs because
they enable the user to complete tasks, such as creating
documents, spreadsheets, databases and publications, doing
online research, sending email, designing graphics, running
businesses, and even playing games! Application software
is specific to the task it is designed for and can be as simple
as a calculator application or as complex as a word
processing application. 
◦ Examples: Microsoft office, Internet explorer, Adobe
Photoshop etc.
Some commonly known application
software
Word-Processing Software: Enables us to
make use of a computer for creating, editing,
viewing, formatting, storing, retrieving and
printing documents, eg, ms-word
Spreadsheet software: Numeric-data-analysis
tool that allows us to create a kind of
computerized ledger, eg, ms-excel
Database software: set of programs that enable
us to create a database, maintain it, organize its
data in desired fashion and selectively retrieve
useful information from it, eg, ms-access
THANK YOU