Key Concepts - Week Three

Question 1

IT Infrastructure:

Answer 1

The combination of hardware, software, network resources, and services required for the operation and management of an enterprise IT environment

Question 2

Evolution Stages:

Answer 2

1. Mainframe
2. PC
3. Client/server
4. Enterprise computing
5. Virtual computing

Question 3

Mainframe:

Answer 3

1959 - Present

Very fast, very secure, very old

Question 4

PC:

Answer 4

1981 - Present

Standalone, not connected

Personal productive is good,
not very useful for business

Question 5

Client/server:

Answer 5

1983 - Present

Connected by a local area network (LAN)

Asynchronous communication

Cost less than mainframe systems

Question 6

Enterprise computing:

Answer 6

1992 - Present

Connected by a wide area
network (WAN)

Asynchronous communication

Using TCP/IP to connect disparate networks and applications together

Question 7

Virtual computing:

Answer 7

2000 - Present

Cloud, mobile, internet (TCP/IP) communication

Asynchronous communication

Access computing resources as-needed,
anywhere anytime

Question 8

Moore’s Law:

Answer 8

Computing power doubles every 2 years (~18 months)

Question 9

Law of Mass Digital Storage:

Answer 9

The amount of data being stored each year doubles

Question 10

Metcalfe’s Law and network economics:

Answer 10

Value or power of a network grows exponentially as a function of the number of network members

Question 11

The 7 Components of IT infrastructure:

Answer 11

1. Computer hardware platforms
2. Operating system platforms
3. Enterprise software applications
4. Data management and storage
5. Networking/telecommunications platforms
6. Internet platforms
7. Consulting system integration services

Question 12

Computer Hardware Platforms:

Answer 12

Includes client machines like desktop PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, servers, and mainframes like IBM Z OS used in banking and telecommunications

Question 13

Consulting and System Integration Services:

Answer 13

Large firms engage leading consulting firms for support with complex infrastructure, such as Accenture and IBM Global Services

Question 14

Data Management and Storage:

Answer 14

Database software providers like IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, and Apache Hadoop are critical for large-scale systems

Question 15

Enterprise Software Applications:

Answer 15

By 2020, it was expected that firms would spend over $500 billion on software for enterprise applications

SAP and Oracle being the largest providers

IBM being middleware

Question 16

Internet Platforms:

Answer 16

Support company websites and intranets with hardware, software, and management services. The Internet hardware server market includes IBM and Dell

Question 17

Networking/Telecommunications Platforms:

Answer 17

Network operating systems like Windows Server, and network hardware providers such as Cisco and Juniper Networks

Question 18

Operating System Platforms:

Answer 18

Operating systems for corporate servers and client level such as Windows Server, Unix, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, and Chrome OS

Question 19

Total Cost of Ownership:

Answer 19

Analyzes direct and indirect costs

Hardware, software account for only about 20% of TCO

The purchase price of an asset plus the costs of operation and maintenance

Question 20

Cloud Computing:

Answer 20

The delivery of different services through the Internet, including data storage, servers, databases, networking, and software

1. On demand service
2. Ubiquitous network access
3. Location-independent resource pooling
4. Rapid elasticity
5. Measured service (pay for use)