IT Infrastructure and Computer Networks (CS112)

Study Notes

Infrastructure encompasses essential physical and organizational structures needed for society and enterprise operations.
Important elements include transportation networks, electric grids, and water supply systems.

IT infrastructure is crucial for developing, testing, delivering, and managing IT services.
Technology enhances communication and productivity in modern business operations.

Small-Scale Computing:
- Limited hardware for local networking.
- Basic software applications like Microsoft Office.
- Minimal maintenance tasks handled manually.
Large-Scale Computing:
- Involves data centers with numerous servers and extensive storage.
- Incorporates complex networking technologies and sophisticated software systems like ERP and big data analytics.
- Automation enhances management and monitoring capabilities.

Businesses depend on IT infrastructure for communication, operations, and data management across industries.
Everyday occurrences like online shopping and remote work rely on robust IT systems.

Supercomputers:
- Highly powerful for processing large data sets.
- Uses parallel processing for high-speed performance.
Mainframes:
- Used by large organizations for critical applications and bulk data processing.
Server Computers:
- Provide services to clients over networks.
- Include blade, rack, and tower servers focusing on performance and space efficiency.

Servers manage centralized resources, enabling ease of administration.
Facilitates secure data storage and sharing with reliable access to applications.
Enhances security and provides scalability to accommodate business growth.

Clients are devices or software that request services from servers.
Function includes initiating communication, consuming resources, and enabling user interactions.

Hardware: Includes computers, servers, storage, and networking devices.
Software: Operating systems and applications power hardware operations.
Facilities: Physical locations equipped with networking cables and systems.
Networking: Elements like switches and routers enable device communication.
Data Centers: Dedicated facilities housing servers and storage, often providing cloud services.

Designed to securely host numerous servers with considerations for power supply, cooling systems, and redundancy to prevent downtime.

Communication Tools: Including email, instant messaging, and video conferencing for business collaboration.
File Sharing: Through cloud storage and collaboration tools like Google Docs.
Web Services: Enables web browsing, e-commerce, and streaming services.
Social Networking: Platforms for connecting (Facebook, Twitter) and communities (Reddit, Quora).
Remote Access: VPNs and remote desktop services facilitate secure control and maintenance of computers.
Internet of Things (IoT): Smart home devices and wearables enhance connectivity and automation.