Guide to Parallel Operating

Systems with Microsoft

Windows XP and Linux

Chapter 1
Hardware Components
 Objectives
• Explain the use of virtual machine technology to run
multiple operating systems concurrently
• Describe the hardware components of a personal
computer system
• Describe the peripheral components that may be
attached to a personal computer system
• Describe the preventive maintenance for a computer
system
• Connect and test the personal computer system

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 Hardware Components
• Major operating systems (OSs): Windows and Linux
• Different OSs can function in parallel
– Virtual machine technology required
• OSs run on personal computers (PCs)
• Chapter goal: provide an overview of PCs
– Get acquainted with components of PC system
– Learn how to maintain PC
– Learn how to dispose of obsolete PCs

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 Virtual Machine Technology
• Allows multiple OSs to run concurrently on one PC
• Fedora Core 4: Linux distribution used in text
• Basic features of Microsoft Virtual PC 2004
– Resides in a host OS running on a host machine
– Provides a virtual machine for each OS guest
• Virtual machine emulates hardware system of guest OS
– User selects guest OS from a console window
• Example of a configuration used in the text
– Virtual PC 2004 is installed in Windows XP, host OS
– Fedora Core 4, guest OS, runs on virtual machine
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 Virtual Machine Technology
(continued)

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 Virtual Machine Technology
(continued)

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 Hardware Components of a PC
System
• Desktop computer: PC used in an office work station
• Desktop computer case comprises several devices
– Power supply: provides the necessary voltages
– Cooling system: removes heat generated by the PC
– Motherboard: main circuit board for the PC
– Microprocessor: central processing unit (CPU) for PC
– Memory: electronic storage for programs and data
– Firmware: instructions in ROM used to start the PC
– Ports: used to connect external devices to the PC
– Adapters: cards that provide capabilities to the PC

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 Cases
• House and protect main electronic components
• Form factor: size and configuration of case or part
• IBM XT PC: early standard for case configuration
• Evolution of desktop computer
– AT (advanced technology) model
– The miniAT
– The small footprint PC
• Tower chassis configuration: placed under a desk

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 Cases (continued)

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 Power Supplies
• The power supply is located in a sealed metal box
• Functions performed by power supply hardware
– Transforms 110-volt AC current to DC current for PC
– Provides clean power feed to PC components
• Power supplies have standardized plugs
• Acquiring the correct voltage for a device
– Ensure the power supply plug fits the device
– Pay attention to the orientation of the plugs

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 Cooling Systems
• A PC may generate more than 200 watts of heat
• Consequences of poor heat dissipation
– Mysterious system crashes
– Premature failure of computer components
• Fans circulating air dissipate heat within the case
• Special considerations for microprocessor
– Uses a heat sink attached to dissipate heat
– May be liquid cooled
– Temperature should not exceed 120-130 degrees
Fahrenheit
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 Motherboards
• Also known as system boards
• Main components of the motherboard
– Processor socket
– Memory slots
– Hard drive connectors
– Expansion slots
• Daughter boards can be plugged into motherboard

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 Motherboards (continued)

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 Microprocessor
• A CPU (central processing unit) on a chip
• Electronic engine that contains logic circuits
• Tasks performed by the microprocessor
– Arithmetic; e.g., adding and subtracting
– Logic operations; e. g, comparing two numbers
– Transferring numbers between registers
• Register: small amount of high-speed memory

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 Buses
• Sets of circuits on the motherboard
• Responsible for transferring data in the computer
• Expansion bus: links adapter boards to CPU and
memory
• All buses consist of two parts:
– Data bus: transfers actual data
– Address bus: transfers location information for data
• Size of a bus (width) determines data throughput
– Example: 32-bit bus transmits 32 bits of data

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 Memory
• Electronic holding area for programs
• Several types of memory used in your PC
– RAM (random access memory)
• Refers to read-and-write memory (typically volatile)
– ROM (read-only memory)
• Instructions for starting the PC (nonvolatile)
– PROM (programmable read-only memory)
• Type of ROM that stores a program (nonvolatile)
– EPROM (erasable PROM)
• PROM that may be erased with ultraviolet light
– EEPROM (electrically erasable PROM)
• EPROM that may be erased with an electrical charge
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 Firmware
• Combination of software and hardware
– Examples: ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM
• BIOS (basic input/output system): type of firmware
– Supports PC during start-up
– Controls keyboard, output text, reads from disk drives
• BIOS may be recorded on ROM or EEPROM
• Setup program shows hardware controlled by BIOS
• Virtual PC 2004 provides BIOS for each guest OS
– BIOS associated with the virtual machine for the OS

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 Firmware (continued)

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 Input/Output Ports
• Also abbreviated as I/O ports
• Two types of legacy ports
– Serial: used for modems, digitizer tablets, others
– Parallel: used for printers
• USB ports are replacing serial and parallel ports
• Location of USB ports: front of case, FireWire ports
• Connectors are identified by gender
– Male connector: copper pins exposed; e.g., serial
– Female connector: holes are present; e.g., parallel

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 Input/Output Ports (continued)

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 Serial Ports
• Transfer data one bit at a time
• RS-232 (recommended standard-232)
– Standard interface for transferring data over cables
– Cable connects device, such as mouse, to serial port
• Implementing connectors specified by RS-232
– Complete specification for 25-pin-D-type connector
– Designers often implemented a subset of full standard
• Example: DB-9 version used by IBM PC-AT
• Check for male connectors to identify serial ports
• Check BIOS settings for allocated ports
– First four ports: COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4

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 Parallel Ports
• Transfer multiple bits in parallel
• Used to connect printers
• Conform to Centronics parallel interface
– Connection to PC is through DB-25 (25-pin) connector
– Check for female connector to identify a parallel port
– Three typical parallel ports: LPT1, LPT2, LPT3
• Two new parallel ports
– ECP (Extended Capabilities Port)
• Supports bidirectional communication
– EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port)
• Like ECP, but also supports nonprinter devices

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 Universal Serial Bus (USB)
• Simplified connection of peripheral devices to PC
• Specifications for USB 1.1
– Maximum bandwidth of 1.5 Mbit for low-speed devices
– Maximum bandwidth of 12 Mbit for high-speed devices
• Connect 127 USB peripherals to USB host controller
• Specifications for USB 2.0
– Maximum speed of 480 Mbps (60 MB/sec)
– Improved expansion-hub design
• Manages transitions in data rates between devices
– Forward and backward compatibility with USB 1.1
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 FireWire
• Sometimes called IEEE 1394
• Very fast digital input/output system
• Provides transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps
• Processes managed while you are shooting video
– Digitization
– Compression
– Audio synchronization
• Other devices that can be connected with IEEE 1394
– Hard drives
– Optical drives
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 Expansion Cards
• Printed circuit boards inserted into motherboard
• Interconnect system components to add functionality
• Sometimes referred to as adapters
• The term “adapter” usually refers to controllers
– Display adapters (video cards)
– SCSI (small computer system interface) adapters

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 Video Adapters
• Plugged into video adapter boards
• Provide display capabilities
– Dependent on logic circuitry and display monitor
• Two basic categories of video modes offered
– Text: displays ASCII characters only
– Graphics: displays any bitmapped image
• Choice of resolutions available in both video modes
• Important features in new modern video adapters
– Local memory for better resolution and color display
– Graphics processors for graphics calculations

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 Sound Adapters
• Record and play back sound
• Support digital audio and MIDI formats
– MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface
• Provide input port for sound source
– Example: microphone is a source of sound
• Provide output ports to speakers and amplifiers
• Integrated sound circuit provided on motherboard
– An alternative to a sound adapter
– Example: Intel AC’ 97
• Provides audio with six channels
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 Disk Drive Controllers
• Manage data transfer between the motherboard and
disk drive
• Designed to communicate with expansion bus
• Standard controller architectures: ATA, SATA, SCSI
• Adding new disk drives
– New controllers may need to be added
– New controller should conform to existing architecture

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 ATA Controllers (Parallel)
• Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA)
– Integrates controller on disk drive itself
• ATA/100: enhanced ATA interface
– Transfers data up to 100 MB/sec
• Parallel ATA (PATA)
– Also known as Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)
– Motherboard controller supports one or two devices
• Example: controller supports hard drive or CD-ROM
• Two IDE controllers on PC: primary and secondary
– Two drives supported by each: master and slave
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 ATA Controllers (Parallel) (continued)

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 SCSI Controller
• Small computer system interface controller
• Parallel interface used to attach peripherals to PCs
• Can interface with up to 15 peripheral devices
• Speeds may exceed speeds of SATA controllers
• Be aware of multiple variations of SCSI standard
– Two SCSI devices may be incompatible
– Example: several types of connectors are supported

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 Storage Devices
• Non-volatile storage for mass data
• Distinguished from RAM (typically temporary)
• Main types of mass storage
– Floppy disks: portable, inexpensive, slow, low capacity
– Hard drives: fast, high capacity, expensive
– Optical drives: encode data with lasers, high capacity
– Tape drives: cheap, high capacity, sequential access
– USB drives: portable, use flash or external hard drives

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 Floppy Disks
• Soft (floppy) magnetic disks (or diskettes)
• Key features: portability, low capacity, low expense
• How floppy disks manipulate data
– Writing data: change polarization of disk using flux
• Two polarization changes translate to binary 1 and 0
– Reading data: read written information in reverse
• Magnetic fields change electric field in read head
• Check BIOS settings for floppy drives
– A PC will often have two drives listed from letter A
– Example: Floppy A and Floppy B
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 Hard Drives
• Cabled to various controllers: PATA, SATA, SCSI
• May be connected to USB ports
• Typical configuration of a hard drive
– Rigid rotating platters
– Spindle on which platters run at constant speed
– Read/write heads moving on a common armature

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 Hard Drives (continued)

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 Optical Drives
• Use light produced by lasers to store data on disks
• Spin at high speeds, but slower than hard drives
• Types: CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW
• CD/DVD laser writers more powerful than readers
• Optical media are removable and inexpensive
– Most common format for distributing software

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 Optical Drives (continued)

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 Tape Drives
• Store computer data on magnetic tape
• Can be analogized to an ordinary tape recorder
• Highly suitable for backup operations
– Large capacity for storing data
– Economical relative to hard drives
• Disadvantage: data is read sequentially

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 USB Drives
• Small, portable flash memory devices
• Plug into any computer with a USB port
• Have up to 2 GB of storage capacity
• Aliases: jump drives, pen drives, key drives
• Other devices referred to by term “USB drive”
– Portable hard drive
– CD drive
– DVD drive

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 USB Drives (continued)

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 Communications Devices
• Support data transmission between PCs or devices
• Modem (modulator-demodulator) types
– Phone: converts between analog and digital signals
– Cable: supports high-speed broadband transmission
• Network interface card (NIC)
– Expansion board interfacing computer with LAN
– May be an expansion card that plugs into bus
– May be an interface on the motherboard
• Wireless Adapters
– Provides wireless (radio) connection to LAN
– Forms: part of motherboard, PC card, USB adapter
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 Communications Devices (continued)

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 Communications Devices (continued)

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 Portable Computers
• Designed for easy transportation
• Modern types: laptops and notebooks
• Laptop features
– Battery- or AC-powered PC
– Generally smaller than a briefcase
– Can be easily transported and used
– Typically use LCD-screen technology
– Integrates mouse using touch pad or trackball
– Built-in NICs and wireless adapters
– CD and DVD drives may be built in or attachable
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 Peripheral Devices
• External to the PC
• Common peripheral devices
– Keyboards
– Pointing devices
– Printers
– External disk drives

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 Input Devices
• Feed data into the PC
• Examples of devices operated by human users
– Keyboards
– Pointing devices
– Biometric devices
– Digital/video cameras
• Storage devices can also provide input
– Not covered in the following sections

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 Keyboards
• Similar to electric-typewriter keyboards
• Designed for input of text and control of computer
• Features of standard U.S. keyboard
– Total number of keys: 100
– Alphanumeric key set: 26 letters and 10 digits
– Special character keys extend the character set
• Computer keyboards use additional control keys

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 Pointing Devices
• Multiple functions; e.g., move pointer, select text
• Mouse: device that rolls on a flat surface
– Maps position on surface to coordinates on screen
– Visible cursor represents current screen position
• Trackball: like a mouse that lies on its back
– Rotate the ball with your thumb, fingers, or palm
– Buttons on the side are similar to those of mouse
• Touch pad: small, touch-sensitive pad
– Move finger on pad to control pointer on screen
– Click by tapping pad or pressing button below pad

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 Biometric Devices
• Science and technology of biometrics
– Measures and statistically analyzes biological data
– Information technology application: fingerprinting
• Fingerprint scanner has two basic jobs
– Get an image of your finger
– Determine whether fingerprint pattern matches scan
• If image matches, user is permitted to access the PC
• Fingerprint scanners included with high-end laptops

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 Biometric Devices (continued)

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 Digital/Video Cameras
• Digital camera stores images on a flash card
– Captured pictures can be downloaded to a PC
– Downloaded pictures can be manipulated and printed
– Digital photos limited by amount of camera memory
• Resolution of regular photo is usually much higher
• Digital video camera stores frames on a digital tape
– Captured video can be downloaded to a PC
– Video manipulated with a video-editing program

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 Output Devices
• Provide output from a PC
• Examples: CRT monitors, LCD panels, printers
• Storage devices can provide output
– Not covered in the following sections

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 CRT Monitors
• CRT (cathode-ray tube) technology
– Used in televisions and computer display screens
• CRT monitor usually refers to the entire box
– Display screen can mean just the screen
– Monitor often implies graphics capabilities
• Size: the most important aspect of a monitor
– Measured in diagonal inches
– Typical size for small VGA monitors is 15 inches
– Size of full-page monitors are 17 or more inches
• Resolution: indicates packing density of pixels
– Examples: 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024, 1600 x 1200
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 LCD Panels
• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): used on laptops
• How LCD technology works
– Uses two sheets of polarizing material
– Liquid crystal solution lies between sheets
– Electric current aligns crystals to block light
• Crystal acts like a shutter
• LCD panels are also used for desktop monitors

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 Printers
• Print text or illustrations on paper
• Three common printer categories
– Dot matrix
• Creates characters by striking pins against ink ribbon
• Each pin makes a dot
• Combinations of dots form characters and illustrations
– Ink-jet
• Sprays ink at paper
• Produces high-quality text and graphics
– Laser
• Uses the same technology as copy machines
• Produces high-quality text and graphics
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 Preventive Maintenance
• Regularly clean the unit to extend useful life
• Be aware of hazards that can harm PC
– Example: static electricity
• Dispose of PC using proper procedures

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 Cleaning
• Problem: dust and dirt cause excess heat
• Cleaning the outside
– Wipe case and screen with mild cleaning solution
– Use compressed air to clear ventilation openings
– Clean the rollers in a mouse with a cotton swab
– Turn keyboard upside down, shake to clear crumbs
– Use soft, dry lint-free cloth to clean optical disk
• Cleaning the inside
– Unplug power cord before cleaning inside case
– Use antistatic wipe to remove dust from inside case
– Clean expansion cards with isopropyl alcohol
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 Electrostatic Discharge
• Rapid discharge of static electricity
• Can occur whenever case is open
– Static discharge from user’s body to computer
– Walking across rug produces 12,000 volts
• Internal components are extremely susceptible
– Hard drive affected by small voltage
– Motherboard may be damaged by 10 volts
• Preventive maintenance
– Ground PC before touching internal components
– Handle electronic circuitry on the insulated areas
– Avoid touching the circuits, or any other parts
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 Hazards
• High voltages in capacitors
– Located in power supplies, monitors, laser printers
– May retain a charge long after power is removed
• Charge could damage equipment and cause shocks
– Do not service equipment with high-voltage capacitors
• Power supplies
– Unplug PC after discharging static electricity
• CRT monitors
– Voltages in monitor are lethal
• Fires
– Use C or ABC extinguisher against fire, not water
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 Disposal
• Many PC components contain harmful ingredients
– Examples: lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium
• Toxins cause allergic reactions, brain damage, cancer
• Guidelines for disposing of PCs and peripherals
– Take batteries to a recycling depot
– You may be able to return batteries to manufacturer
– Recycle CRT or submit it to hazardous waste program
• Resources extracted from computers
– Gold, silver, copper, steel, aluminum, wire, cable
– Many extracted resources can be recycled

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 Connecting Components and Testing
a PC
• Components to plug into computer
– Case, keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, LAN cable
• Color-coded connectors simplify “cabling up”
process
• The PC99 System Design Guide
– Gives clarity to the industry
– Advances the platform
– Ensures availability of hardware and software drivers
• Connectors are color-coded according to PC99

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 Connecting Components and Testing
a PC (continued)

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 Connecting Components and Testing
a PC (continued)

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 Cabling Up and Testing the PC
• Arrange components as they will be used
• Connect various cords in sequence
– Example: connect tower case from bottom to top
• Delay connection of USB devices
– Devices can be configured as they are plugged in
– Exceptions: mouse and keyboard
• Test each component
– Examples: CRT shows image, mouse moves pointer
– Verify that each device has power
– Before correcting a problem, turn off the PC
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 Summary
• Virtual machines emulate hardware systems
• Virtual PC 2004: hosts guest OSs on virtual machines
• PC components: power supply, cooling system
motherboard, firmware, ports, adapters, I/O devices
• Motherboard: CPU, bus, memory, expansion slots
• Memory: RAM (temporary), ROM, mass storage (disk)
• BIOS firmware supports PC during startup

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 Summary (continued)
• Input/Output (I/O) ports: serial, parallel, USB
• Disk drive controllers: ATA, SATA, SCSI
• External communication: modems, NIC cards,
wireless adapters
• Follow guidelines for PC care, safety, and disposal
• Follow color-coding scheme to connect devices to PC

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