IT+infrastructure

=IT Infrastructure= Tuesday, September 13, 2011 <>

**Topic overview:**
IT infrastructure can be defined many ways. For our purposes, we will think of it as the core technology platform on which sophisticated information systems run. This includes the standard hardware, software, networks, and databases an organization uses to run its information systems.

By the end of today's class you should be able to:
 * Explain the difference between //hardware//, //software//, //networks//, and //data//, and the role that each of them play in an organization's IT infrastructure.
 * Identify some of the key elements of a typical IT infrastructure for small, medium, and large organizations.
 * Explain what the different elements do and why they are important.
 * Understand some of the key challenges in building an effective IT infrastructure for an organization.

**Preparation for class:** Prior to class, you will need to read the following sections from the following book:

Sections:
 * Section 6.1: Computer Hardware and IT Infrastructure, pages 192 - 200
 * Section 6.2: Categories of Computers and Computer Systems, pages 200-203
 * Section 6.3: Types of software, pages 203 - 206 and pages 212 - 219

Book:
 * Laudon, Kenneth C., and Laudon, Jane P. Essentials of Management Information Systems, 6th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. ISBN: 0-13-14150-2.

The readings are accessible as PDF files on Blackboard. When reading these sections, focus on the big picture - what are the key hardware and software elements in an information system infrastructure. Why are they important in an information system? What does each of the elements do? How do they work together? Focus less on the details of each element described and more on understanding, at a high level, how they work together.

Reference materials:
Slides:

**Student pre-class exercise:**
Select two common types of Information Technology equipment frequently used by businesses. One should be a type of hardware and a type of software. Briefly describe what each type of equipment does. Note: do not post any duplicates - each person needs to select a different type of software or hardware.

[Bob Monroe] Example software: Oracle Relational Database Management Software (RDBMS). Oracle's database software manage the storage and retrieval of corporate data. Example hardware: Disk drive: Disk drives are hardware devices that physically store data in a computer system.

[Maryam Al-Subaie] Example software: Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is a PDF file viewer that can interact with all PDF documents. The user can view, digitally sign, verify and print the PDF document. Example hardware: Keyboard. The keyboard is an input device that looks like a typewriter. It consists of keys laid out in a specific way - each key produces a letter, number or symbol that performs a certain computer operation.

[Hind Al Khulaifi] Example software: Microsoft Office: computer software that encompasses a collection of applications such as Microsoft Word, a word processing program. Example hardware: Printer: A hardware that produces electronic documents of text/graphics into physical print form on paper.

[Maryam Al-Thani]Example software: Mac OS X is an operating system computer software which uses GUIs and are developed and sold by Apple. Example hardware: Scanner is a device that can scan images, text, handwriting, and convert them into digital images.

[Fatima Abdulla] Example software: E-mail: is used for exchanging messages and notes between computer and computer, and it's important for communication between people. Example hardware: Mouse: is a device that controls the coordinates of a cursor on the computer screen as you move it around.

[Walied El Hag Ali] Example software: Microsoft Windows 8 which is an operating system for computers, phones etc. Example hardware: External Hard Drives which are used for data storage. [Sara Al-Mannai] Example software: antivirus: scans your computer for any viruses. Example hardware: USB flash drive: a small portable storage device. [Nahan Arif]Example hardware: Monitor: Displays the computer's open programs and user interface. It allows the users to interact with the computer (e.g. using mouse or keyboard)Example software: Quickbooks: Set of software solutions for small business which is designed to manage payroll, sales, inventory and many of their other needs. [Al-Jawhra Al-Mana]Example hardware: computer speakers: a device that outputs sound.example software: Browser: a program that allows the user to explore the internet through links. [Mohammed Kamal]

Example of Hardware: SD Card is a non-volatile memory card used to transfer data for portable devices Example of Software: SAP, this is a German corporation software that provides software and application support to businesses of all sizes.

[Fatima Al-Khayat] Example of Software: Anti-spyware – software that improves computers security by detecting and removing spyware software, also it protects the computer from any future installation of spyware software. Example of Hardware: Fax Machine – a device that can send and receive scanned documents that are transmitted through telephone lines, and it’s usually connected to a printer. [Haya Al_Mannai] Example of Software: Microsoft Word: a software that enable us to write and edit texts, change font size, color and type. Also, add pictures and edit them. Example of Hardware: CD-Room: a device that plays CDs that contains music, data or computer software. [Amal Osman]Example of software: Customer relationship management (CRM), a software used to manage clients and customers interactions with the company, it is used to synchronize business processes.Example of hardware: projector, a device used to project images, its an assistive tool used in business presentation to better deliver concepts and ideas.

[Khadeejah Al-Husseiny]Example of Software: Skype: used for connecting with other parties through conference calls and chatsExample of Hardware: Clicker: Used for switching between slides in a powerpoint presentation

[Ahmad Al-Sarraf]Example of Software: AutoCAD: An engineering software that is used in 3D design, drafting, modeling and architectural drawing.Example of Hardware: Scanner: A device that scans object and converts it to digital image in computer.

[Orkhan Rustamzade] - Example of Software : Microsoft Excel - widely used program for accounting and storage of numbers and dataExample of Hardware : Hard Drive - Digital data storage for storing information and data. [ Jevika Shetty] : Software: Adobe Photoshop: An editing software developed by Adobe to edit and bring changes in pictures or photographs. Hardware: microphone : A hardware device used to transform sound waves into changes in electric currents.

[Firas Bata] Example software: MinuteMan - MinuteMan is a project management software. It creates Gnatt charts, PERT charts, schedules, and reports. Example hardware: Router - A router is a device that is used to distribute wireless internet connection within a space creating an internet network. [Najla Al-Madhadi]:Example of software: Eclipse: a software used to develop applications in Java.Example of hardware: Webcam: a camera that is mostly used for video conferencing and for uploading images to a computer. [Dua'a Althabatah] Example of software: Top Invoice (business finance/ accounting application): it manages all the business payments and gives you full control over the sales which makes your job easy when working with customers and invoices.

Example of hardware: barcode scanner: used to detect the prices of the products in the supermarkets, which makes the shopping process easier and faster. Also there’s a scanner in the blackberry devices, similar to the bar code function, for example in the CMUQ Q-Word we can scan the barcode of the events/calendar. [Hussain Hejji] Example software: iOS: it's an operating system used for iDevuces Example hardware: iPhone: it's a smart phone that is able to make life easier and uses the iOS

[Noof Al-muzaffar ] - example of Hardware : (USB flash drive) it is a storage device that located outside computers. it is a removable and rewritable device that available with different capacity - example of software : ( virus scanners) its a software that protect computers. it scan the hard drive and the files in the computer to detect, inform the user , and then remove it. [Abdullrahman Al-Muftah]Example of Software: Dashboard. In a mac, users can access what is known as a dashboard, where they use several application at one time; using a calculator, writing down some notes, and even checking the weather.Example of Hardware: A computer's CPU tower, having the ability to signal parts of the computer to perform certain tasks, etc. [Ayah Abujarbou]Software: Symbian, Nokia's Operating System.Hardware: Video Card, it displays and outputs images. [Mohammed Al-Rawahi]Software: KashFlow accounting software. A software that businesses use to prepare their accounting books and statements.Hardware: Servers, allows companies to store data, used in networks, and run programs.

[Anas Ali Chaudry] Example of Hardware: Photocopy Machines: These machines are used to make photocopies/duplicates of documents in an office. Some of the machines also have a scanner that enable a user to send scanned images to his/her email address. Example of Software: Adobe Illustrator: This software allows users to draw and design material for publishing such as for magazine pages in print media or posters made by marketing firms. This can also be used to create a layout for any text document.

[Mashael Al-Misnad] Example Software: Adobe Acrobat. Used by businesses and individuals to create files in Portable Document Format. PDF provides a fixed non-editable layout. Example Hardware: Webcam. A common networking hardware now widely used for video conferencing which is frequently used for interviews in the business world.

[Noor Al-Mohannadi] Example of Software: Firewall a software that is used to protect computers from threats of the public internet. Example of Hardware: photocopier which is used to create copies of a document and send it to different departments in a company.

[Mohammed al ahmadani]: Example of hardware: speakers; enables the user to listen to the finished verbal and audio products from the computer.

Example of software: Linux operating system; a computer operating system based on free and open source software which enables its users to use, study, change and improve due to the availability of its source code.

[Hamsa M Al-Massri]: Example of a software: minitab is a software that is used for data analysis. Example of a hardware: a floppy disc that is a hardware used for storing data.

[Dalia Hassan]: Example of software: DOS it is one of the first operating systems. Example of Hardware: Projector it is used to display different kinds of data.

[Ognjen Popovic]:

Example of hardware: Security tokens (also known as authentication, USB, or cryptographic tokens). They are given to people authorized to use a certain service in order to ease the process of authorization and proving their online identity. They increase security of business data since they serve as passwords generators for accounts for which it is to risky to have a permanent password.

Example of software: Reuters 3000 xTra is a software used by traders on money markets and financial markets, as well as investment analysts. This software provides instant access to information such as prices on stocks traded on exchange, options, bonds, gold, oil, as well as foreign currency rate movements and most important economic indicators and financial data. It also gives user possibility to customize the workspace on his desktop. Apart from being a tool for acquiring and manipulating data and information, it also has integrated trading functions that allows companies to trade on electronic exchange markets, or treasury departments of two banks to exchange currencies, etc.

[ Jim Briggs] Example software: iCloud: is a cloud storage that allows users to store music files and acts as a data syncing center for emails, contacts, calender e.t.c Example hardware: Ipod: its a portable media player

[Fatima Fikree] Software: Sage Peachtree. A ready to use accounting software for small businesses. Hardware: Router. Used by businesses to provide them with a secure and managed internet connection, and other various reasons.

[Patrick Steinhagen] Hardware: electronic time clock machine. This device enables the tracking of employee's work times, monitoring the time of arrival and leaving of the workplace. Software: TimeClick. A popular software which complements the time clock machine by managing shifts and schedules.

[Nasser Al-Khori] Software: Webex offers collaboration solutions for online meetings, remote support, and webinars and online events. Software developed by Cisco. Hardware: CD-Rom drive, used to burn CD's on a PC or laptop

[Nijat Ibrahimov]

Software: SAP NetWeaver is an enterprise system to help organisations to run their business on a single, integrated platform that includes both application and technology.

Hardware: External Hard Disk. Enables people and businesses to store their files on the mobile disk which can be used in any computers via USB.

[Mohammed Hadi Takiddin]: Software: Microsoft office Word Document. Hardware: Keyboard.