Chapter 3 - Managing the Information Systems Infrastructure and Services

Copyright © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. 1

Companies have to plan and manage their infrastructure needs to gain the

greatest returns on their IS investments

Chapter 3 - Managing the Information Systems Infrastructure and Services


The IS Infrastructure

The IS Infrastructure• Describe how changes in business’ competitive landscape

influence changing IS infrastructure needs.

Issues Associated with Managing the IS InfrastructureDiscuss managerial issues associated with managing an organization’s IS infrastructure.

Cloud ComputingDescribe cloud computing and other current trends that can help an organization address IS infrastructure–related challenges.


The Is Infrastructure

• Businesses rely on an information systems infrastructure– Hardware– System software– Storage– Networking– Data Centers


IS Infrastructure Components:Hardware – Computer TypesComputer Type Simultaneous

UsersTypical Use Typical Cost (US$)

Supercomputer One to Many Scientific Research $1m to $20m

Mainframe 1,000+ Transaction Processing, Enterprise Applications

$500k to $10m

Server 10,000+ Providing access to databases, applications, and files; Web site hosting

300 to $50k

Workstation Typically one Engineering, Medical, Graphical Design

$750 to $100k

Personal Computer

One Personal Productivity $200 to $5000


IS Infrastructure Components:System Software

• Controls computer hardware operations• Operating Systems– Examples: Windows, OS X, Linux– Manages hard drives and storage– Manages keyboard, mouse, monitor, & printers– Coordinates application access to computing

resources


IS Infrastructure Components: Networking


IS Infrastructure Components:Servers, Clients, and Peers

• Servers– Host (serve up) Data, Databases, Files,

Applications, Web Sites, Video, and other content for access over the network

• Clients– Consume hosted resources

• Peers– Serve and Consume resources, both a Server and a

Client interacting with similar computers


IS Infrastructure Components: Types of Computer NetworksType Usage Size

Private branch exchange (PBX)

Telephone system serving aParticular location

Within a business

Personal area network (PAN)

Wireless communication between devices (Bluetooth)

Under 10 meters

Local area network (LAN)

Sharing of data, softwareapplications, other resourcesBetween several users

Typically a building

Campus area network (CAN)

Connect multiple LANs, used bysingle organization

Spanning multiple buildings

Metropolitan area network (MAN)

Connect multiple LANs Larger than LAN or CAN, such as the area of a city

Wide area network (WAN)

Connect multiple LANs, distributedownership and management

Large physical distance, up to worldwide


The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW)

• The Internet is one of several Global Networks– The Internet has standard protocols– The Internet is based on Internetworking, or combining

networks to form larger networks• The World Wide Web uses the Internet– The World Wide Web is not the Internet– The World Wide Web is

• WWW protocols (ex: HTML & WWW URLs)• WWW Documents (e.g.: Web Pages)• WWW Domain Servers (translate URLs into IP addresses)• WWW Browsers


The Internet and the World Wide Web:Web Domain Names and Addresses

• The Internet uses IP Addresses– IPV4: Old style, running out of addresses– IPV6: New style, huge address space

• The WWW uses Domain Names– Ex: www.google.com

• Google is the host name• .com is the suffix

• The WWW translates Domain Names into IP Addresses– www.arizona.edu translates to (IPV4) 128.196.134.37

http://www.google.com/

http://www.arizona.edu/


The Internet and the World Wide Web:World Wide Web Architecture

• Components– Interconnected Web Servers– Utilize Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

(TCP/IP)– Communicate over the Internet

• Clients request Web page hosted on server• Server break into packets• Packets stream over internet to Client• Client reassembles• Client can request retransmission of any missing packets• Web browser translate Web page into visible output


Demand Fluctuations

• Many companies face demand fluctuations– Seasonal Fluctuations (e.g., Christmas)– Monthly Fluctuations (Month-end spikes)

• Demand fluctuations create inefficiencies– Some estimate up to 70% of IS capacity only used

20% of the time– IS infrastructure is typically not readily scalable • Changing internal capacity takes time• Cloud computing (next section) may be the answer


What Is Cloud Computing?

• Cloud Computing is a way to allocate resources much like a utility sells power– Resources are used “on-demand”, as needed– Customers only pay for what they consume– Resources can be rapidly allocated and reallocated– Consumption becomes an operating expense– % Utilization and Efficiency increase dramatically


Why Cloud Computing?

• The efficiency benefits are tremendous– Different customers have different demand spikes– Large data centers have economies of scale• Purchasing, deploying, and managing technology• Implementing green cooling technologies• Flexibly reallocating resources

• Customers can focus on core operations– Infrastructure can be consumed as needed– Scalability no longer a limiting factor


Cloud Computing Service Models

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

• Platform as a Service (PaaS)

• Software as a Service (SaaS)


Public and Private Clouds


Advanced Cloud Applications

• Grid Computing– Microprocessors– Networked computers– Large problems that can be decomposed

• Edge Computing– Servers at the edges of networks– Close to clients– Enhanced performance


Convergence of Computing and Telecommunications


Green Computing

• Driving forces– Power Bills– Reputation– Culture

• Approaches– Virtualizing servers– Cloud computing– Power management software– Reduced printing– Retiring obsolete hardware responsibly


Linux: Operating System

• Linux is developed collaboratively, meaning no one company is solely responsible for its development or ongoing support.

• This spreading of development burden amongst individuals and companies has resulted in a large and efficient ecosystem and unheralded software innovation.

http://www.linux.com/learn/new-user-guides/376-linux-is-everywhere-an-overview-of-the-linux-operating-system



Linux: Where is it used?





Assembly Language

An assembly language is a low-level programming language for a computer, or other programmable device.


Middleware

• A computer software that provides services to software applications beyond those available from the operating system. It can be described as "software glue".[Middleware makes it easier for software developers to perform communication and input/output, so they can focus on the specific purpose of their application.


Data Buffer

• A Data Buffer is a region of a physical memory storage used to temporarily store data while it is being moved from one place to another.


Firewall

• A firewall is a software or hardware-based network security system that controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic by analyzing the data packets and determining whether they should be allowed through or not.


IP Convergence

• IP convergence refers to the capability of the Internet to act as a single foundation for various functions. IP convergence allows companies to create a more mobile workforce.

• A VPN helps maintain corporate security by separating business traffic from other Internet traffic -- Remote employees can use the Internet to access everything from corporate files to voicemail messages.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ip-convergence1.htm

