Information systems for managers – S08

IT Infrastructure and emerging

technologies

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 Topics Covered
• IT Infrastructure
• Infrastructure components
• Current hardware trends
• Current software trends
• Open source software
• Cloud computing

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 Infrastructure
– The basic facilities, physical and organizational
structures and facilities needed for the operation
of a society or organization or a function.
– Transportation, communication, sewage, water,
electric systems etc. are examples of
infrastructure.
IT Infrastructure is the shared technology resources
that provide the platform for the firm’s specific
information system applications. IT infrastructure
include hardware, software and services.
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 IT Infrastructure
• Computing platforms
• Telecommunication services
• Data management services
• Application software services
• Physical installations/facilities
• IT management services
• IT standards services(compliance)
• IT education services
• IT research and development services
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 Evolution of IT Infrastructure
• General purpose mainframe (1959 to present)
• Minicomputer computing (1965 to present)
• Personal computers (1981 to present)
• Client server networks (1983 to present) – 2tier,
3tier, n tier, web server, application server
• Enterprise computing (1992 to present) –
TCP/IP networking standard
• Cloud and mobile computing (2000 to present)

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Mainframe

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Mainframe - 02

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Minicomputer

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Cloud Computing

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 Other Classification
• Based on capacity and size
– Super computers
– Mainframe computers
– Minicomputers
– Microcomputers
– Personal devices like laptop, notebook etc.
– Personal digital assistants
– Smart phones
Size varies from a large room/hall to palmtop
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 Technology Drivers
• Chip design to cater for large scale integration(VLSI)
– to increase computing power( MIPS)
– PCBs with populated transistors and circuits
– Nano technology
– Mass storage devices
• Efforts to reduce cost and size of computing and
storage devices
• Efforts to reduce power consumption and peripherals
• Reduce communication costs and internet

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 Standards
• General purpose usage(OSI Layers, protocols
etc.)
• Flexibility in choosing elements in a network
– (restrict monopoly)
• Following standards ensuring compatibility
• Scalability through integration
( different elements from different companies)
• Certifications and audits to ensure compliance
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 IT infrastructure Components/ Eco Systems
• Computer Hardware platforms
– Dell, IBM, Sun
• Operating systems platforms
– Unix, windows etc.
• Enterprise software applications
– SAP, MS Project
• Networking/Telecommunications
– AT&T, Nortel, CISCO
• Consultants and system integrators
– IBM, Infosys, TCS etc.
• Data Management and storage
– SQL Server, DB2, SAN (Storage area networks connect multiple storage devices on a separate
high speed network dedicated to storage)
• Internet platforms
– Java, .NET

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 Hardware Platform trends -1
• Mobile digital platform – smartphones have taken on many
functionalities of PCs – surfing of internet, email,
messaging, exchanging data over extranets, kindle.
• Grid computing – connecting geographically remote
computers into a single network to create a virtual
supercomputer by combining the computational power of
all computers on the grid.
• Virtualization – is the process of presenting a set of
computing resources so that they can all be accessed in
ways that are not restricted by physical configuration or
geographical location.

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 Hardware Platform trends - 2
• Cloud computing features
– on demand self service (individuals can get
computing capabilities on their own)
– Network access from anywhere on internet
– Location independent resource pooling
– Rapid elasticity
– Measured services

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 Hardware Platform trends - 3
• Green computing – minimize impact on the
environment (reducing power consumption)
• Autonomous computing (develop systems that
can heal themselves, optimize and tune
themselves, protect from intruders).

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 Software Trends
• Open source software – software produced by a community of
several programmers which is free. E.g. Linux, Apache web
server, MySQL database, Mozilla firefox browser
• Software for the Web
– Java: OS independent object oriented programming language
– Ajax (Asynchronous javascript and XML): client and server exchange data
without reloading the entire page, HTMl for presentation, XML for data
transfer
• Web services and service oriented architecture
• Enterprise applications
• Off the shelf applications
• Cloud based software services and tools (Mobile Apps)

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 Other features
• Multimedia
• Graphics
• Animation
• High resolution
• Customised applications

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 Input Output Devices
or peripherals
• Keyboard
• Display screen (CRT, LCD, LED, etc)
• Printers( dot matrix, inkjet, laser, etc)
• Disk drives
• Voice and video ( mike, speaker, camera etc.)

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 Cloud Computing Services
• Infrastructure as service
• Platform as a service
• Software as a service

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 Components for decision making
• Demand in the market for the organization
– Need analysis
– Feasibility analysis (cost, time, utility etc.)
• Business strategy
• IT strategy and infrastructure strategy
• Information technology
• Competitor’s IT services
• Competitors IT infra investments
• Cost affordability and effectiveness
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 Other considerations
• Compatibility
• Expandability
• Reliability
• Maintainability
• Timing of acquisition
• Rent/lease or buy decision
• Vendor selection
• Installation, training and maintenance
• Operating cost and associated costs
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 Summary
• IT Infrastructure
• Infrastructure components
• Current hardware trends
• Current software trends
• Open source software
• Cloud computing
• Components for decision making

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