2.2 the functions of each fundamental computer hardware component

Identify the functions of each fundamental computer hardware component

Motherboard

Now, the first thing is the motherboard. It's the basis of your computer. It's the first component installed in the system unit, and it holds all of the circuitry that ties the functions of the computer components together.
You can think of it like your car (which has many computer systems of its own). If you have a frame and tires, you've got a car (or you've got a system unit), but it won't take you very far! Now, add your engine - the motherboard - where all the systems tie in one way or another, and you've got the start of a working vehicle.

Central Processing Unit

The motherboard and circuitry need to have power. There is a power box included with your system unit, and you'll see a cord coming out of the back of your computer for that. The central processing unit, or the brains of the computer, sits on the motherboard and does actually have its own cooling fan. The processors now are so fast they need to be cooled down. All the instructions you give the computer - like a click of a mouse - go through the CPU, which processes in billions of cycles per second. Commonly installed processors have quad-cores, or four separate processors in one component. There are six-core and eight-core available, and the more advanced the technology the higher the cost. That's one of the choices you might need to make.

Memory, Cache, RAM, ROM

Next to the CPU sits the cache, or the temporary memory where things you are working on sit for quick interpretation by the CPU. The RAM chip is also near this location. Random-access memory is volatile, or temporary, memory. Whenever you turn on a program, its instructions are stored in RAM while the machine is on. Once you shut the machine down, both the cache and the RAM are completely cleared out. RAM storage is common at eight, ten or twelve gigabytes.

Network Connections
A part of the system unit most of us take for granted these days is the wireless local area network card, or the WLAN card. This is the card you actually don't see signs of from the outside of your unit, but it is what lets us connect to our wireless internet.

UNIT 2 : The Computer System

2.3 Explain the concept of Input-Process-Output (IPO) Cycle.


The computer may seem like a very complicated machine, but it basically does three simple tasks: input, process and output. 

During the functioning of a computer. The first stage (things to work upon) is called input stage, the second stage (the actual work being performed) is called process stage and the third stage (the result) is called output stage. Certain input is needed to accomplish a task, a process is carried out on the input to obtain the output.

Every task follows this Input-Process-Output cycle (IPO cycle). A computer follows the I-P-O cycle that is, it needs certain input, carries out a process and produces the output.

Examples- Activity 1 : Buying Drinks from a Vending machine        
                   Input      : Inserting Coins, Pressing a button                 
                   Process  : Select a drink according the button pressed   
                   Output   : Drink, Coins changed 

                 Activity 2 : Using Computer   
                 Input      : Data and commands via input devices 
                Process   : The CPU works on the data according to the                                     input commands 
                Output    : The processed result on the output devices 

Firstly, Input means to put in or into and that is exactly what an input device does. An input device enables one to communicate with the computer. Input devices are used to enter information and issue commands. Examples of input devices are the keyboard, mouse, scanners, video cameras and microphones.

Then, information received from the input devices will then be processed in the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU's job is to process instructions, perform calculations and manage the flow of information through a computer system. The CPU not only communicates with the input devices, but also the output and storage devices to perform tasks.

A storage device holds information. For the computer to receive instructions about what processing is to be done to the information, it must be held inside the computer long enough to be processed. A hard drive, tape drive, floppy disk, and CAROM drive are storage devices. The computer uses information stored on these devices to perform tasks.

Lastly, after the information has been processed, or the necessary tasks completed on the information, it will be outputted to you. The output device enables a computer to communicate with you. These devices display information on a screen, create printed copies or generate sound. Some of these devices are the monitor, printer and speakers.

UNIT 2 : The Computer System

2.4 Explain the recent development of hardware and software technologies

A)  Software development 

Oracle has been hard at work upgrading the SPARC servers since its Sun acquisition in 2010. This week’s announcement proclaims the project is finally complete. The SPARC systems have been refreshed with T5 and M5 processors, the T5 boasting as the fastest microprocessor available. John Fowler, Oracle’s VP of Systems said that the new SPARC T5 and M5 servers “leapfrog the competition with up to 10x the performance of the previous generation, offering an unbeatable value for midrange and high-end enterprise computing.”

The new SPARC T5 and M5 servers, running Oracle Solaris, offer more scalability than the existing T4 line, they’re also said to be twice as fast as their T4 predecessors. The new servers range from the T5-1B single socket blade to the M5-32 which features 32 sockets and are available in single, 3U, 5U, 8U and full rack mounts. The new server lineup includes a total of five new servers optimized for consolidation and virtualization. According to Oracle, the T5 servers have set 17 world records in enterprise computing, beating out IBM’s Power 780 server lineup.

However Oracle isn’t stopping here. According to ZDNet, Oracle is planning on shifting gears towards silicon and hardware capable of running its database queries and software. “Software in silicon is redefining enterprise computing”, Larry Ellison, Oracle’s CEO told ZDNet adding “modern hardware is 90% software.”

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B) Hardware development 

On Tuesday IBM launched a new zEnterprise mainframe, the zBC12. With a starting price of $75,000 USD, it's designed for the latest in analytics, cloud, and mobile computing, and boasts a faster processor at 4.2 GHz (up to 13, depending on the model) and two times the available memory -- up to 496 GB -- than its predecessor, the Z114. The company said it also added new industry solutions and enhanced software and operating systems across its entire zEnterprise portfolio.

"Each core on the zBC12 microprocessor chip has dedicated data compression and cryptographic processors -- an improvement over the previous generation where two cores shared those processors," the company states on the zBC12's data sheet (pdf). "The chip has [also] been optimized for software performance. With a redesign of cache, there are almost 2X the amount of cache on the chip and 2X the amount in the processor drawer than the prior generation. With a larger cache structure, there is less of a need to access main memory which helps improve the performance of data serving."

IBM is now offering the zBC12 in two models: a single central processing drawer model, the H06, and a two-drawer model, the H13, the latter of which offers the additional flexibility for I/O and coupling expansion and increased specialty engine capability. IBM said the H06 and H13 models are designed with up to 6 and 13 configurable cores respectively which can be configured as general purpose processors (CP) or specialty engines (IFL, zAAP, ICF or SAPs).

The company said on Tuesday that it's also launching a Linux-based version of the zBC12, the Enterprise Linux Server (ELS). This solution includes hardware, a z/VM Hypervisor and three years of maintenance, and can run a portfolio of over 3,000 Linux applications. The ELS can be extended with two new solutions, ELS for Analytics and Cloud-Ready for Linux on System z, as an onramp for analytics and cloud computing, the company said.

IBM has also released v6.3 of the z/VM operating system which now supports up to 1 TB of real memory, leverages HiperDispatch technology for improved system performance, and is enabled for OpenStack for advanced enterprise-wide service management. The x/OS operating system has also been updated, now v2.1, with many performance and scalability enhancements for data serving workloads. It also now includes "Crypto as a Service" which enables Linux on System z applications to use z/OS services to encrypt data.

UNIT 2 : The Computer System

Distinguish between hardware and software

 Hardware 

As a physical components of computer. This physical components are tangible which can be touch.

Example, scanner, power supply unit, hard disk, CD rom drive, monitor, keyboard, speakers and printer.

Can be categorized into 4 category

        i.        Inputs

       ii.        Processor

      iii.        Outputs

       iv.        Storages

Example: 
a) Input devices – any hardware device that sends data to a computer, allowing you to interact with and control the computer.

b) Processor – Alternately referred to as a processor, central         processor, or microprocessor, the CPU is the Central Unit of the computer. A CPU handles all instructions it receives from hardware and software running on the computer.

c) Output devices – An output devices is any peripheral that  receives data from a computer, usually for display, projection, or physical reproduction.

d) Storage devices – A storage devices is any hardware capable of     holding information either temporarily or permanently.

Cable and Connectors

        i.         HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)

       ii.         RJ45

      iii.         USB (Universal Serial Bus)

 Software 

Programs and operating information used by by a computer Machine-readable instructions, executable/binary form Non-tangible

Can be grouped into two:

        i.         Operating systems

       ii.         Applications

An operating system or OS is a software that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a compter operating system, a computer and software programs would be useless.

Application.

   a)    Enable the user to perform productivity tasks such as creating          documents, surfing the internet, playing video and audio files,          manage databases etc.

   b)    Can only be installed after an OS is installed correctly.

   c)    Applications are OS-specific.

   d)    Come packaged with the OS, standalone, in suites and customised.

Application : Example

   a)    Microsoft office 365

   b)    VLC player

   c)    Mozilla Firefox

Software categories

a)  Free  –   permission for anyone to use/copy/distribute both binary and source code, either verbatim or with modifications (free here refers to “freedom”)

b)  Open source – similar to “free” but accept more restrictive    licenses,  for example, not for commercial uses, outside the  European Union, etc

c)   Public domain – non/no longer copyrighted, usually the binary is released in public domain but not the source code.

d)   Non Free     – use, redistribution or modification is prohibited, requires you to ask for permission.

e)   Proprietary – Similar to “Non Free” but you have to pay to get the permission.

f)   Freeware    – permits redistribution of the binary but not modification, and source code is not available.

g)  Shareware  – allows for redistribution, but anyone who continues to use a copy is required to pay a license fee.