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Computer Architecture

Final Assignment
Sebastian Vasile 510290
30-Jan-12

Contents
Question A: Describing and investigating the SOMETIX Operating System ............................. 3 Question B: Suggesting the OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) for a computer networking lab .............. 6 Question C: Suggesting the OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) for the computers of the primary school 7 Question D: Suggesting the OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) if the primary school is really poor ........ 8 Question E: Suggesting an OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) for the computers of the city hall ............ 9

Question A: Describing and investigating the SOMETIX Operating System

This is a description of the investigation that will be made about the SOMETIX Operating System (OS) that has been recently released. Because there are no current documentations on the Operating System, the investigation aims to describe the functionality and characteristics of SOMETIX, if it is user friendly, the system requirements, if it is worth stepping over to it and the benefits that it brings to the company. 1. The first thing that needs to be analyzed when considering installing the SOMETIX OS is whether or not the current computers that the company is having can run the OS and if not what are the necessary upgrades that are needed to be done. The next aspect to investigate about SOMETIX is what type of Operating System is. Is it a command line OS like DOS, or a graphical user interface OS like Windows, or is it a new type. This way it can be determined if SOMETIX is a user-friendly OS or one designed more for the professionals and the people that have a good understanding of IT. Also related to the system requirements there should be a analysis of whether or not the OS can support the newest computer configurations, like what types of processors, video cards, hard disks, USB peripherals and other equipment such that no conflicts occur between the computers and the OS. 2. One important characteristic that needs to be investigated is how the commands are processed by the OS; if there are internal commands that need to be executed before an actual application can be run or if the system is using cache memory in order to store more commands before they are executed or if there are some commands that runs themselves automatically. There also needs to be an analysis if the commands used by SOMETIX are similar to those of other Operating Systems like DOS or
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Linux or Windows. Examination needs to be made, when the system is first installed, if whether the system offers the tools to allocate disk space and create partitions on the hard disk and how do the tools work if provided. 3. The next aspect of SOMETIX investigation should be how many users it accepts at one time and how many processes can it run at once. If it is a single-user process then only one person can be logged on to the OS at one time not admitting external users from interfering with the work that is been made on the OS by the person logged in. On the other hand if SOMETIX is multi-user then there are a lot of possibilities and applications, like having different workers logged in on the same computer at the same time working on things. The next thing is to see if SOMETIX can run multiple processes at the same time. The standard systems these days usually start up as single-process OS and quickly evolve as multiprocess allowing the user to work and see different applications at the same time. It should also be investigated how many processes start at the startup of the system. There is also the question of how many processes can it run before the system starts to work really slowly and is not responsive to the user. 4. Next step is to analyze the desktop interface (if it exists) and determine the basic commands that are needed when working with an OS, where they are located, and how can the user use them. Such functions are: opening a window, creating a file, creating a directory, accessing the file, searching for a file, changing one type of file into another, installing programs, uninstalling programs, changing the screen resolution and settings, changing volume, how to find the main folder and core of the OS, where are programs installed by default etc. After the initial basic commands are discovered, the next step is to find out what advance functions can SOMETIX offer such as: checking the space and sectors of the hard disk that is installed on, changing core information of the OS in order to help the user achieve his goals, if there are functions that allow the user to create new programs and applications etc. If the operating system works with registers, can there be a way to analyze them and change something, given the rights. Another thing is if SOMETIX has any kind of Control Panel, a place where all the main settings can be looked up and changed accordingly to the users preferences. 5. Continuing the investigation, the way rights are given to users should be looked up. Look if the system offers tools in order to create new users
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account and how secure the information about these accounts is. Also look if the system allows one administrator per computer or if it allows multiple administrators that can make changes to the OS. Check the options that permit users different layers of access to the system and how exactly they can be change in order to fit the company best. Another thing to investigate is whether SOMETIX allows file sharing and creating workgroups and networks that can share different files, and if it does how can it be implemented.

6. Applications are one of the most important things in an OS and it should be investigated if SOMETIX offers support for all the know applications on the market. There should be an analysis of what applications it can offer with the installation and which need to be installed afterwards. The main applications that should be looked up are: word processing, text editing, viewing pictures, viewing videos, editing pictures and videos, creating databases, creating spreadsheets for the company, creating presentations, also if there are any programs that can create archives and compress files. Furthermore investigations should be made into the level of similarities of the applications that SOMETIX have with similar applications from other operating systems and also how hard are they to be learned by new users. 7. Another feature about the OS that could be investigated is networking and the ability to connect to networks. It should be seen if SOMETIX can support the current Internet Protocols that are used in order to connect to the Internet and also if SOMETIX can have implemented support in order to act as a server for internet applications. Also it should be check the way the OS sends back reports about internet activities and if it has its own Internet browser. 8. Last but not least investigations should be made in the bug reporting system as SOMETIX is a new OS and is bound to have bugs and small problems. Look if there is an updating system and check if it is automated or has to be turned on manually and if is supporting implementing other updates for applications and drivers different than the ones of SOMETIX. Overall these are the basic investigations that should be made in order to create a survey report about the newly introduced Operating System SOMETIX, although these shouldnt be the only questions that should be asked in regard to the OS. A new operating system that has no documentation about it is sure to take time until it is fully understand and that is why progressive steps should be taken in order to learn it.
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Question B: Suggesting the OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) for a computer networking lab

Analyzing and deciding on which Operating System (OS) to install when setting up a computer networking lab is not easy as each OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) comes with advantages and disadvantages. Given the specifications for this computer networking lab, as the director doesnt need a large variety of application software, but only working with network configurations and testing different networking protocols, the suggestion would be to install the Linux Operating System. There are a few reasons why the director would choose Linux. The first reason which should be considered when choosing Linux is its price. Linux is a fairly cheap Operating System that has almost the same functions as Windows, which is a lot more expensive. Although Linux is cheaper it requires a little more experience when it is installed, but that minor inconvenient is overtaken by Linuxs adaptability and options for configurations, which are needed in a networking lab. The second reason it should be Linux is that it requires a lot less applications to run and doesnt come with all those information processing software that Windows has, unless you want to install them. Another aspect that should be measured is the fact that Linux is usually used for servers and network activities, because it offers a stronger security and security measures than other Operating Systems, in order to prevent any information theft that could occur in the company. Also, Linux offers a lot of support when it comes to setting up the network lab as it has software specific for this type of work. Linux OS is considered to be a lot more stable than other Operating Systems because it doesnt need a lot of updating and also requires less reboots. Furthermore, Linux is a very accessible Operating System as it offers its users the ability to change core functions, because Linux is an open-source OS. Having this kind of flexibility can benefit the computer networkin g lab as its designed to have different configuration and to test different types of protocols. In the end, having all these advantages puts Linux to be the most suited Operating System to be installed in the computer networking lab.

Question C: Suggesting the OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) for the computers of the primary school

When considering what Operating System would be most suitable for the primary school of the directors son a few things should be taken into consideration. The Operating System should be as user-friendly as possible as pupils and inexperienced teachers would work on it and it should provide a few applications that are intended for learning and provide support for them. That is why the decision is to go with Windows Operating System. One of reasons for choosing Windows for the primary school is that it is the most user-friendly OS on the market, having a graphical interface that is easy to learn and also Microsoft provides support with tutorials in order to ease the learning curve. Having an interface that is easy to understand helps the children a lot, because they dont spend too much time learning on how to use the computer and focus on actually using it and using the applications that they need. Another reason why the school should go with Windows is because of the wide variety of applications that are supported by this Operating System. Software like Paint or Word processing is already integrated from the start in the OS, thus helping the school into providing the necessary tools that the pupils need. Also, Windows comes with a really strong package of applications called Microsoft Office, designed for different types of activities, such as writing documents, creating spreadsheets, creating organized databases, create presentations that can help the teachers support their lectures and also a application that can organize, administrate, create and send e-mail. Given the objectives of the school are also to support the schools administration this applications package is well suited for the support, thus bringing another advantage to implementing Windows. Windows also offer really useful tools when it comes to user account and user rights, as some restrictions must be put in place in order to prevent pupils from accessing important school information. The process of creating user accounts doesnt require too much experience with computers, so that teachers can setup account for pupils with ease, because of Windows relatively easy to understand system. Finally, Windows is not really a cheap Operating System and adding Microsoft Office can increase the pricing, but because the school wants to have the best conditions in which its pupils can study the most suitable OS can be considered to be Windows.
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Question D: Suggesting the OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) if the primary school is really poor

If the primary school has financial problems regarding the implementation of an Operating System on the computers there are solutions to these problems. One of the best solutions could be implementing Linux, because this is an OS that is fairly cheap, having even some versions that are free. Linux is an Operating System that comes with different interfaces depending on the versions, making it a little harder for pupils to understand it. Although it doesnt offer the same range of applications suited for a primary school as Windows does, it can still be customize and tuned for pupils to work on it because of its open-source code. A downsize is that it requires a little more experience from people which will be implementing it. Because Linux can be customizable, it can also fit the requirements for the schools objectives of providing lectures on limited base supporting software. In the end, because the school is having financial problems the best Operating System that they should implement is Linux, as it provides similar support as Windows, but at a reduced price (even free), although the interface is harder to understand and it could take a little more time for the pupils to learn it.

Question E: Suggesting an OS (DOS/Windows/Linux) for the computers of the city hall

The Operating System for the computers of the city hall needs to have specific functions in order to meet the expectations of the mayor. That is why the most suitable Operating System that should be installed should be Linux, because it is one of the most reliable and secure Operating Systems on the market, thus helping the city hall achieve its goals. Linux can be implemented in many ways from command-line OS to having different types of graphic interfaces, shipping in a large variety of versions. The first thing that should be said about Linux is that its cost is really low compared to other OS and even though the city hall has allocated a large budget for this operation, this money should be spent into developing the necessary applications that need to run on the computers and also the website. Even though it is a cheap OS that doesnt mean it offers less then more expensive ones; contrary it is actually providin g more usability and security. The one downside to Linux is that it requires more skilled personnel to install it and administrate it to its full potential. Because the city hall puts reliability and confidentiality as to be the most important aspects, these will be discussed first in relation to Linux. The Linux Operating System is considered to be very reliable and quite bug free, because of several reasons: it has better background process management meaning that it gives the user the ability to have total control over the processes that run in the background thus adding to stability; it is very carefully engineered to empower the user thus giving him control over the OS. Also when considering confidentiality and security, Linux also delivers really well in that field. That happens because Linux can be shipped with different versions (Ubuntu, Knoppix, Debian etc.) making it hard for other people to breach into the city hall administration. Also Linux is always shipped with an opensource code making the Operating System really customizable and able to be modeled in order to fit the needs of the user. Another aspect that the city hall wants to expand on is internet-connections and developing its own website. Linux supports all web-programming languages and can also support server-like applications making it easy to setup and administrate a website. It also provides strong internet protocols and security which are essential for the integrity of the website. The open-source functions of Linux can benefit the city hall a lot with them developing a system that can calculate taxes with ease and implementing these
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operations with the need of a lot less applications. Also Linux offers the possibility to automate all these applications and create a simple interface that the city hall employees can use and just input the necessary information but not having access to core functions of the Operating System. This is done with the administrator-user rights tools that offer the Linux user really in-depth options when it comes to giving different user rights to use the OS. Overall, these are the main functions, but not the only ones, which recommend Linux as the most suitable Operating System which can be installed on the computers of the city hall.

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