Wk 3 Lec 2: The Evolution of IT Infrastructure

The Evolution of IT Infrastructure

• The general-purpose mainframe and minicomputer era began in 1959 with the introduction of IBM mainframes.
• Less expensive DEC minicomputers were introduced in 1965.
• The personal computer era started in 1981 with the IBM PC and saw a proliferation of personal software in the 80s and 90s.
• The client/server era began in 1983 with desktop clients networked to servers.
• Processing work was split between clients and servers during this period.
• The enterprise computing era emerged in 1992 with a focus on integrating disparate networks and applications.
• This era saw the adoption of Internet standards and enterprise applications.
• Cloud and mobile computing emerged in the year 2000, with cloud computing offering computing power and software applications over the internet or a network.
• Cloud computing is currently the fastest-growing form of computing.

Defining a Computer

• A computer is an electronic device that can perform various operations based on a set of instructions.
• It accepts input data, processes it according to instructions, stores it in secondary memory, and produces output.

Computer Hardware

• Computer hardware refers to the physical components of a computer, such as the monitor, keyboard, data storage, graphics card, sound card, and motherboard.
• Software, on the other hand, consists of instructions stored and run by the hardware.
• Hardware follows software instructions to execute commands.
• The combination of hardware and software forms a usable computing system.

Functional Components of a Computer System

• The input unit consists of input devices that convert data into a computer-understandable format and send it to the CPU for processing. Examples include keyboards, mice, and microphones.
• The motherboard is the central component of a computer, housing integrated circuitry that connects other components like the CPU, RAM, disk drives, and peripherals connected via ports or expansion slots.
• The Central Processing Unit (CPU) controls the computer's performance and is considered its 'brain'.
• It comprises the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU), the Control Unit (CU), and Registers.

CPU Components

• The ALU performs arithmetic and logic operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and comparisons.
• The CU manages the computer’s overall operations, controlling the interpretation, flow, and manipulation of data and information.
• Registers store intermediate results from ALU calculations during the processing.
• They also contain the instruction being executed by the CPU.

Processor Speed

• Processor speed is measured in Hertz (operations per second).
• Typical CPU clock speeds range from 1 GHz to 5 GHz.
• Intel is expected to release 15th Generation processors in October/November 2024 with speeds exceeding 6 GHz.

Information Flow and the Bus

• A bus serves as a communication system for transferring data between components inside a computer or between computers.
• It consists of the medium (wires, optical fiber, etc.) and protocols (rules for data sharing).
• The bus connects the CPU, main memory, I/O devices, and potentially other components like hard disk drives.

Output Unit

• The output unit consists of output devices that convert data into a human-readable format.
• Common output devices include monitors, printers, and speakers.

Computer Memory

• Computer memory stores data during processing.
• There are two primary types of memory: primary memory and secondary memory.

Primary Memory

• Primary memory, or main memory, consists of four main types:
  • Registers: These are very fast memory locations that hold data for immediate processing by the CPU.
  • Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is volatile memory that holds data and instructions currently being used by the CPU. It is read and written to quickly but loses its contents when the computer is shut down.
  • Cache memory: Cache memory is a small, fast memory that stores frequently accessed data and instructions to improve performance.
  • Read Only Memory (ROM): ROM is non-volatile memory containing essential instructions for starting a computer. Data stored in ROM cannot be changed or erased.

Secondary Memory

• Secondary memory stores data permanently.
• Devices used for secondary storage include hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, USB drives, and more.

Storage Capacities

• Information Object - Required Capacity
  • Text character - 1 byte
  • Typewritten page - 2 Kilobytes (2K)
  • Low-resolution photograph - 100 Kilobytes (100K)
  • A short novel - 1 Megabyte (1MB)
  • Complete Shakespeare works - 5 Megabytes (5MB)
  • A Pickup Truck full of books - 1 Gigabyte (1 GB)
  • Complete Beethoven works - 20 Gigabytes (20 GB)
  • UL Library - 2 Terabytes (2 TB)
  • All printed material in the world - 200 Petabytes (200 PB)
  • All words ever spoken - 5 Exabytes (5 EB)

Storage Devices

• Storage devices store large amounts of non-volatile data.
• Three main types include:
  • Block Storage Devices: These devices store data in blocks, typically hard disks with capacities ranging from 1TB to 4TB.
  • Optical Storage Devices: These devices store data using lasers, such as CD’s and DVD’s, which are slower than magnetic hard drives.
    • CD’s store 640 or 700 MB of data.
    • DVD’s store 4.7GB or 9GB (dual density).
    • They can be Read Only (CD), Write Once (CD-R), or Read/Write (CD R/W)
  • Flash Storage Devices: These devices are non-volatile and offer storage capacities ranging from 32MB to 512 GB.

Expansion Cards

• Expansion cards are printed circuit boards (PCBs) that add functionality to a computer system by being inserted into expansion slots on the motherboard.
• They can be used to expand features that are not available on the motherboard.
• Common expansion cards include:
  • Graphics cards
  • Sound cards
  • Network cards

Hardware Upgrades

• Hardware upgrades involve adding new hardware to a computer to enhance performance, increase capacity, or introduce new features.
• Some common upgrades include:
  • Replacing the hard drive for performance boosts or increased storage capacity
  • Increasing RAM for smoother operation
  • Adding a USB 3.0 expansion card to maximize the capabilities of USB 3.0 devices
  • Upgrading hardware may be necessary for older computers to meet the system requirements of new programs.

Embedded Systems

• Embedded systems comprise computer hardware with integrated software.
• They can be independent systems or components of larger systems.
• They are typically based on microcontrollers or microprocessors, designed for specific tasks. For example, a fire alarm only senses smoke.

Mobile Hardware

• Mobile hardware enables work on the go.
• Wireless devices, including mobile phones, tablets, personal assistants, and netbooks, are mobile hardware examples.
• They utilize central processing units (CPUs), optimized for low-power environments.

Mobile Device Categories

• Mobile devices come in various forms, with these common categories:
  • Smartphones: Offer internet connectivity, email, and extensive app libraries.
  • Tablets: Larger-screen versions of smartphones with extensive app support and add-ons like case/keyboard combinations, blurring the line between laptops and tablets.
  • Laptops: Now thinner, lighter, and more powerful than ever, running full desktop operating systems like Windows and Mac OS X.
  • Smartwatches: Wrist-worn miniature computers offering streamlined experiences as smartphone companions, providing notifications and quick-glance data.

Explore the major milestones in the evolution of IT infrastructure, from the introduction of mainframes to the rise of cloud computing. This quiz will cover significant technological advancements and their impacts on computing models over the decades. Test your knowledge of the different eras and how they shaped modern computing.