Introduction to Information Systems

Question 1

Processor

Answer 1

Performs tasks and manipulates data

Question 2

Memory

Answer 2

Storage used as working space; all data of memory is lost when the computer is off.

Question 3

Volatile storage

Answer 3

Memory that can’t retain data without power

Question 4

Secondary storage

Answer 4

Long-term storage (aka hard drive, also USB); non-volatile, data is retained when the computer is off

Question 5

Input device

Answer 5

Devices that help you interact with the computer; ex. keyboard, mouse

Question 6

Output device

Answer 6

Devices that help you see what the computer is doing; ex. monitors, printers

Question 7

Traditional hard drives

Answer 7

Spinning disks move

Question 8

Newer hard drives

Answer 8

Solid state disks (SSD) with non-volatile memory chips

Question 9

Which are faster: SSD or spinning disks?

Answer 9

SSD

Question 10

Binary

Answer 10

Using 1’s and 0’s

Question 11

Byte

Answer 11

When 8 bits are grouped together

Question 12

1 kilobyte (KB)

Answer 12

1024 bytes

Question 13

1 megabyte (MB)

Answer 13

1024 KB

Question 14

1 gigabyte (GB)

Answer 14

1024 MB

Question 15

1 terabyte (TB)

Answer 15

1024 GB

Question 16

Fault tolerant disk configuration

Answer 16

A single hard disk in the server failing does not cause the loss of data

Question 17

Redundant power supplies

Answer 17

Power supply in a computer converts the AC power from the wall outlet to the DC power used internally by the server

Question 18

Memory (servers)

Answer 18

Servers need more intensive memory for applications to run; will commonly have 128 GB or more

Question 19

Multiple processors (servers)

Answer 19

Servers commonly have 2 processors to increase processing abilities (work for a single processor is split between 2)

Question 20

Server virtualization

Answer 20

Divides hardware capacity of an individual server and allocates it to virtual machines

Question 21

Advantages if using virtual machines

Answer 21

-Increases efficiency to 75% used, when 90% of the physical server was sitting idle
-Easier to move VM to new hardware
-Failure of physical server results in only a few minutes of downtown until VM run it; high availability
-Fast to deploy, can be created in minutes

Question 22

Software

Answer 22

Set of instructions that tells a computer what to do

Question 23

Applications

Answer 23

Accomplish tasks with a computer; provides user interface for interactivity (ex. Microsoft Office); needs certain operating services to access certain applications

Question 24

Operating system

Answer 24

Responsible for managing and using the hardware and provides application programmer interfaces (ex. Windows 10, MacOS)

Question 25

Services

Answer 25

Runs in the background and do not provide a user interface (ex. Microsoft SQL)

Question 26

Client-server (Application)

Answer 26

Processing tasks are divided among multiple computers, each computer has a different task. Two parts: client allows users to interact with the application and the server is associated with data storage and processing. Ex. web browsing - the client is the web browser and server is the web server accepting requests from the web browser and responds with data to be displayed on the web browser.

Question 27

Peer-to-peer (Application)

Answer 27

Specialized application that function without the need for a centralized server, designed to be resilient. Less common than client-server.

Question 28

Web-based applications

Answer 28

Installed on a web server and typically uses a back-end database for data storage. User interface is a web browser.

Question 29

Advantages of web-based applications

Answer 29

-Provides flexibility and functionality across different operating systems
-Maintenance is easy
-Servers are automatically updated and immediately available

Question 30

Cloud computing

Answer 30

Organization’s access to computing resources or services from a third party over the internet; IT outsourcing and is purchased as a commodity.

Question 31

Cloud-based applications

Answer 31

Web-based but can also be done with remote desktop. AKA “software as a service”

Question 32

Cloud-based services to build applications

Answer 32

Provides building blocks to build applications. Ex. Online storage and online database

Question 33

Cloud-based virtual machine

Answer 33

Virtual machines that are run in the data center of a cloud provider; highly available. Ex. Microsoft SQL server can include SQL VMs.

Question 34

Advantages of cloud computing

Answer 34

-More efficient to have one large provider to manage the application
-No large capital investment (do not need to purchase hardware or software)
-Scale up or down as required
-No need to maintain or upgrade
-Access the service or data from anywhere (as long as there’s internet connection)
-Access to larger IT talent pools
-Ability to handle peaks in processing
-Focusing management’s attention in core business
-Better disaster recovery

Question 35

Disadvantages of cloud computing

Answer 35

-Ongoing licensing fees are more expensive than purchasing it and running it locally
-Customization is limited; orgs may need to change business processes
-Less control of security, privacy, service, or data
-Difficulty to move data between cloud providers
-Risk to data if the provider goes out of business