Assignment on Designing a computer system

Introduction:

            We live in modern era; technology makes our life very comfortable and easier. Computer is a great invention of science and technology. It helps us in various ways. Everyday every moment we are using it for our daily activities. From home to office it is being used in a various ways. We can use it for storing data, calculation, graphical representation, engineering and medical analysis, business analysis, educational purposes etc. All classes of people use this for their regular activities. From child to old man use it for different purposes.
We can use it for recreation activities. Computer system has two main component software and hardware. Software is an operation system of a computer. Computer hardware consist of central processing unit (CPU), chip set, RAM, BIOS- basic input output system, internal busses like graphics and sound cards, power supply and some removable media devices like CD, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD, USB flash drive, storage devices and some other devices. In this assignment I will discuss about function of computer system, how to design a computer system, how to build and configure a computer system and routine maintenance of a computer system.

Understanding the function of computer system:

The role of computer systems in different environments:

            There are different types of computer but all of them have processor, keyboard, memory, mouse and screen to display. There are 10 different kind of computer system and I will describe all of them in brief:

• 1.      Personal computer: A PC is a computer which is really dedicatedly builds for individuals with minimal price, size and capabilities. Normally most of the people use Microsoft windows but few of them use Mac or Linux operating system.
• 2.      Desktop: It is one kind of PC and it is for regular use. Normally it is fit for desk, so that it is called desktop. Normally we fit it in a permanent location. There are some extra components like mouse, keyboard, monitor, sound system devices.
• 3.      Laptop: Notebook or Laptop is quite same and those are small mobile computers. They are run by a single main battery of from an external power supply when the battery is charging. It is a combined form of PC but for mobile users.  
• 4.       Personal digital assistants (PDAs): it is a handheld computer and also called small or palmtop computer. Now it has colour screen and audio capabilities. It can be use as mobile phone, portable media player or web browsers. Most of them have touch screen and internet access through internet, Wi-Fi, WWANs.
• 5.      Workstation: A workstation is same as PC but it has more processing power, memory and additional capabilities to execute a certain task. It is being used for displaying and manoeuvring complex data like engineering simulation, 3D mechanical design, mathematical plot and animation.
• 6.      Server: It is dedicated for server application. Sever application means it can response any request which is connected to it. Some well-known servers are web, e-mail, database and file server
• 7.      Mainframe: it is a big, giant computer which is being used for storing huge data and very complex applications like consumer statistics, functional transaction processing and ERP.
• 8.      Minicomputer: it is lie between personal computer and mainframe computer and also called mid-range servers.
• 9.      Supercomputer: it is superlative than any computer and it has highest largest memory, highest computation rate or highest cost. It is the fastest computer in performing numerical calculations at greatest speed.

• 10.  Wearable: Normally those computers are worn on the body and those need user’s hand, eyes, voice or attention interaction. It is being used in health monitoring systems, behavioural modelling, and media development and information technology. Normally government organization, military and health professionals use those computers. [1]

The hardware, software and peripheral components of a computer system:    

                                                 

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The hardware of a computer system: It is the physical part of a computer that accomplishes inside the hardware. This part of the computer does not change frequently. Most of the components are embedded so users can’t see it normally. Those are the usual hardware devices in a computer.

• ü  Motherboard: this is the primary and main circuit board. It is really a complex electronic system and it is known as logic board, main board or system board.
• ü  Central Processing Unit (CPU): it is the main component of a digital computer which construes commands and proceeds data in computer programs.
• ü  RAM: it is the storage device and act as a main memory and all kind of execution are took place here.
• ü  Basic Input Output System: It ready the software programs to load, execute and control.
• ü  Power Supply: it supplies electrical power to a group of load or output load.
• ü  Video display controller: Logical representation of visual info is converted to a signal which is used as input of an exhibit medium.    
• ü  Computer bus: it transfers power and data between the components of a computer
• ü  CD-ROM drive
• ü  Floppy disk
• ü  Zip Drive: It is a medium capacity removable disk storage system.
• ü  Hard disk:  It is a non-erasable data storage system [2]

 The software of a computer system: Software is a group of computer programs and interrelated data that give the instruction for telling a computer what to do and how to execute it. There are three kinds of computer software such as system software, application software and programming software.

System software is a combination of device drivers, servers, operating systems, utilities, windows systems. Programming software consist of compliers, debuggers, interpreters, linkers and text editors. Application software is classified in business, computer-aided design, databases, decision making, educational, image editing, industrial automation, medical, mathematical, simulation, spreadsheets software and so on. [3]

Peripheral component of a computer system: Those devices are attached to a host computer. It is less or more dependent to host but not a part of it. Common peripherals are storage, input devices, output devices, display devices, graphical output devices and computer display.    

Compare different types of computer system:

	Entry level system	Business Class System	Gaming System	Workstations and server
CPU	Intel Pentium 4 or Celeron running at 2 Gigahertz (GHz) or better, or AMD Athlon, Duron or Semphon running at 1.5Ghz or better	Intel Pentium 4 or Celeron running at 2 Gigahertz (GHz) or better, or AMD Athlon, Duron or Semphon running at 1.5Ghz or better	Intel Pentium 4 running at 3 Gigahertz (GHz) or better, or AMD Athlon, or AMD64 running at 2.2Ghz or better	Intel Pentium 4,  Intel Xeon, AMD64, AMD64FX, AMD Opteron. System may support multiple processors.
RAM	256 megabytes (Mb) of DDR RAM	256 megabytes (Mb) of Error Correcting Code (ECC) DDR RAM	1 Gigabyte (Gb) of DDR RAM	512 megabytes (Mb) to 4 Gigabytes of DDR RAM
Hard disk storage	40 Gigabytes (Gb)	EIDE 120 Gigabytes (Gb) - SCSI or SATA with RAID 1 preferred	Gigabytes 80 (Gb)	80 Gigabytes (Gb) to 2 terabytes (Tb)
Optical storage	CDRW/DVD	CDRW/DVD	CDRW/DVD	Task Specific
Monitor	17 inch CRT display	17 inch CRT display	17 inch CRT display	17 inch CRT display
USB ports	2.0 standard at least 4 ports	2.0 standard at least 4 ports	2.0 standard at least 4 ports	2.0 standard at least 4 ports
Video	At least 32MB - Often uses system memory	At least 32MB - Often uses system memory	At least 128MB DDR RAM video adapter with Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and heat sink	Task Specific
Audio	Should be included along with speakers	Should be included along with speakers	5.1 Dolby	Optional - Task Specific
Network adapter	Should be included (for Hi-speed Internet)	Should be included (for Hi-speed Internet)	Should be included (for Hi-speed Internet)	High end Network Adapter

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Computer system design:

Computer system design specification:

The influencing factors:

·        Purpose: this lab will be providing open computer use, instructional computing facility, collaborative work and laboratory work.

·         Specific application: a server is needed, so a powerful and high speedy computer is mandatory.

·        Budget:  Budget will not be too much; it must be affordable by the college authority.

·        Staffing/ maintenance: stuffs are required for installing, configuring and maintenance work of hardware and software. Without proper maintenance the lab will be vulnerable. 

Aspects for consideration:

·      Special note- For all hardware items needs the reliability, warranty and serviceability which will reduce the maintenance costs. At least computer equipment provider will give 3 years warranty

·      Workstation hardware- all the workstations need those items and service provider will provide those items according to the management demand. Those items are variable in capacity and they are: CPU, memory- RAM, primary storage space, sub-systems like networking, audio, video, secondary storage, input, monitor and form factor

·      Server hardware- all workstations are totally depends on server for printing, storage and application serving.

·      Networking- it is the core component of computer facilities and it allows access to internet resources, email checking and browsing.

·      Printing- there will be printing facilities, every student has print account and they can print from this lab by using their print account.

·      Other peripherals: there will be some facilities for scanning, special storage and special input

·      Audio/video systems: there will be projector, sound system, and VCR facilities which will help students in seminar.

·      Upgrade path: if any hardware and software become much backdated and more effective alternative are available in market, then those items will be replaced or upgraded.

·      Furniture- lab will be facilitated with adequate furniture for students to sit down.  [5]

The suitability of a system design specification:

            The computer lab will be designed such a way that it will contains at-least 50 workstations and 1 server and internet facilities, printing, scanning facilities and other audio/ video facilities.

            All workstations configure will be Intel Pentium 4 or Celeron running at 2 Gigahertz (GHz) or better, or AMD Athlon, Duron or Semphon running at 1.5Ghz or better, 256 megabytes (Mb) of DDR RAM, 40 GB hard disk, CDRW/DVD, 17 inch LCD display, 2.0 standard at least 4 ports.

            The server configuration will be Intel Pentium 4, Intel Xeon, AMD64, AMD64FX,  AMD Opteron. System may support multiple processors, 512 megabytes (Mb) to 4 Gigabytes of DDR RAM, 160 GB hard disk, CDRW/DVD, 17 inch LCD display, 2.0 standard at least 4 ports.

            There will be wi-fi internet connection in the campus. Student can use their personal laptops in lab as well.

            A projector from Dell S300WI model number is and the price is reasonable and it covers the budget.

            Cannon I-Sensys MF9130 printer with scanner will be in the lab. There will be centralized sound system for audio conference. So considering all the maters those specifications is very much suitable for the desire scenario. 

            For operating system we will use windows and for antivirus we will setup a firewall in the server which will protect all the workstations. Setup and implementation cost will cover by the allocated budget. All service providers will give 3 years warranty.  Power line is centrally distributed and there are some extra power ports for using laptops. Speed and performance is quite good and efficiency and effectiveness is satisfactory. All the system are integrated properly and they are synchronous in operation.

Build and configure computer systems:

Build and configure a computer system to meet a design specification: 

            At first I need to configure the hardware then software. First of all I will set up all the workstations properly. I will set up motherboard, processor, heat-sink and fans, memory, power supply unit, hard disc drive, optical drive, graphics card, network adapter, modem and sound card properly. In the same way I will set up the server. I will set up the printer and projector in a very suitable place and sound system in a proper distribute way. Then server will be connected to the internet and all the workstations will be connected to the server. Then I will connect printer with server.

            Secondly I will setup the software in all workstations and configure them to get the internet connection. Operation system will be windows. Then I will install some application software, utility server. In the server I will install server software. A firewall will be setup in server computer which will monitor all the workstations. I will also configure BIOS, date and time, antivirus. Power management is very vital things. There will be adequate power connection port for all workstations and other equipments and some extra port for student’s laptops. I will configure user profile, front and icon size, background and colour, file management, file or folder sharing. Before operation, lab equipments will be checked very properly. Safety procedure will be take place by using antistatic wrist straps and antistatic mats.             

Test and document a computer system:

Before student uses, I need to prepare the lab for proper using. Making the lab fit I need to do some checking and testing.  I will do testing and troubleshooting for resolving the problems which rose during configuration and installation period. I will test all the equipments by using Power On Self Test (POST) procedure, fault diagnosis processes, device/ peripheral troubleshooting for audio/video devices. If I have some problem which I can’t solve then I will seek help to manufacturer, some other technician. For software testing I will do the black box, white box procedure. For maintenance work, one person will be employed. His task will be checking all the workstations, if anyone complains any particular workstation he will repair it. If he can’t solve the problem, then he will contact to suppliers to repair or replace.  

Undertake routine maintenance on computer systems:

Perform routine maintenance tasks on a computer System:

            First of all I will make a routine to check and test all the workstation regularly. Every Saturday maintenance stuff will check all the hardware and the next following Saturday he will check software. If any hardware get disturb, he will either repair or replace it. For software maintenance he will check is there any update version of our using software. If update version is available he will install new version. His task are fixing patches or bugs, checking utility software, e.g. disk clean- up and defragmentation, system back- up, updating antivirus software, fixing firewall, spyware or malware deleting and so on.   

Upgrade the hardware and software on a computer System

            Sometimes we need to do the updating. We will check for software update at regular basis but it is tough and costly for updating hardware. Like after 2-3 years we can update RAM, graphics card but processor updating is really costly.  But every 4 years we will change all the workstations.  If the demand for printer or scanner is too high we will buy another printer.  After 2 year we will increase the capability of central data storing unit. Server updating is mandatory.  After 3 years we will update sound, network, optical media and existing software.

Conclusion:

            Technological improvement is very necessary for competing in this present world. Every nation is trying to be technologically solvent.  Fast world countries people are trying a lot to do their works technically rather than physically. For technical improvement, computer literacy is must having. Computer is now our part and parcel and we can’t spend a single day without using it.  Computer study is very important for college education.  Computer system designing is very interesting topics and it is a challenging task. A computer laboratory is an important place for an education institute. Institute authority must give importance on computer using and they will improve their computer systems as they can.      

References:

1.      10 Different Types of Computers, Last modified on: 29-06-2008, Accessed on: 01-06-2011,  Available on: http://readerszone.com/facts/10-different-types-of-computers.html

2.      Types of computer hardware by Isabel Rodrigues, Accessed on: 01-06-2011,  Available on: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-8-2006-98605.asp

3.      Computer Software, Last modified on: 01-06-2011, Accessed on: 01-06-2011,  Available on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_software

4.      Types of computer systems by Frank White, Last modified: 24-02-2005, Accessed on: 01-06-2011, available on: http://www.whitecapcomputer.com/newsletter/articles/types%20of%20computer%20systems.htm

5.      Computer Lab Design Considerations, Last modified: 05-05-2009, Accessed on: 01-06-2011, available on: http://www.colorado.edu/its/recommendations/labs.html