• •• •1Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 1Choosing Hardware, Software,and Networking EquipmentCriteria and Selection ProcessHardware Alternatives and their FeaturesSoftware Alternatives and their FeaturesNetworking AlternativesXVII. Selecting a Computing PlatformXVII. Selecting a Computing PlatformInformation Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 2Computing PlatformsComputing Platformsn A computing platformcomputing platform consists of the hardware, software (e.g.,operating system, compilers, database management systems,etc.) and networking configuration on top of which you run yourinformation system.n Key questions:– What sort of system best suits the needs of the project?– What criteria should be used to decide?– How should hardware, software, and networking equipmentbe selected? Why?– What are the general principles that should be kept in mind?nnKey concern:Key concern: Understanding systems (hardware, software, andnetworking) -- knowing what types and classes of systems areavailable, knowing their characteristics.• •• •2Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 3Major Platform Resource TypesMajor Platform Resource Typesn Hardwaren Softwaren Networkingn Human ResourcesInformation Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 4Classes of Hardware SystemsClasses of Hardware Systemsn Mainframesn Commercial Minicomputersn Microcomputersn Embedded systemsn Supercomputersn Workstations and Serversn Microcomputersn Embedded SystemsTechnical/EngineeringCommercial/BusinessCommercial/BusinessLargeLargeSmallSmalln There are two basic classes of hardware systems: Commercial/Business,and Technical/Engineering.• •• •3Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 5Commercial MinicomputersCommercial Minicomputersn $10,000 to $500,000n Proprietary hardware and software– e.g. IBM AS/400, Compaq (DEC) VAX/VMS orAlpha/OpenVMS, HP MPE/iXn Often “black-box” systems.n Increasingly being replaced by UNIX- or Windows NT-basedsystems.n Multi-user machines.Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 6Workstations and ServersWorkstations and Serversn $5,000 to $500,000n “Open” Systems– e.g. Sun SPARC, IBM RS6000, HP/UX, SGI/IRIX, CompaqTru64, SCO, etc.n Often at least partially “glass-box” systems.n Encroaching on Minicomputer marketplace.– Internet servers are key application space.n Intrinsically multi-user-capable machines.• •• •4Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 7“Open” “Open” vs vs ProprietaryProprietaryn The “Openness” of a system is a measure of the ease by whichone system can be replaced by a similar system from an entirelydifferent manufacturer.n Proprietary systems are available only from one vendor (e.g.,the Apple macintosh).– Advantages: vendor provides everything; no finger-pointing!– Disadvantages: price gouging, complete vendordependency, difficult migration, poor interoperability betweenvendors.n “Open” systems are available from many vendors, e.g., the PC– Advantages: easy to change vendors, competition keepsprices lower, good interoperability between different vendors.– Disadvantages: confusing minor differences, finger-pointing.n Few systems are entirely proprietary or entirely open.Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 8Black-Box Black-Box vs vs Glass BoxGlass Boxn A “Black-Box” system is one in which only the vendor orintegrator has access to the internals of the system;customer/user customization is limited. Often used for single“turn-key” applications.– E.g. point-of-sale, bank ATM.n A “Glass-Box” system is one in which the internals are partiallyor completely accessible to the customer/user. Often preferredfor general-purpose use.– E.g. engineering workstation.n Very few commercial systems are entirely “Glass-box”.• •• •5Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 9MicrocomputersMicrocomputersn $1,000 to $25,000.n Generally “Open” hardware, proprietary software. Hardwarebecoming a commodity.n Encroaching on Minicomputer and (to a lesser extent) theworkstation and server marketplace.n Wintel (WINdows on inTEL) are the main players in thiscategory; Apple competes in niche markets.n Generally single-user machines.Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 10WintelWintel: : MS WindowsMS Windows + Intel x86 + Intel x86n Microsoft Windows NT– Server and desktop– Window system on top of VMS-derived OS.n Microsoft Windows 95/98/00– desktop only– Window system on top of DOS.n Both proprietary, single-user.• •• •6Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 11WintelWintel: MS Windows + : MS Windows + Intel x86Intel x86n Open architecture– CPUs available from Intel, AMD,and Cyrix (despite Intel Slot 1patent).– Motherboard chipsets availablefrom Intel, VIA, SiS; motherboardsavailable from many vendors.– Peripherals available from manyvendors.n Intel x86 hardware increasinglybecoming a “commodity”.Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John DiMarcoPlatform Selection -- 12Apple MacintoshApple Macintoshn ~5% of the microcomputer marketplace.n Important in niche markets: K-12 education, graphic design.n Proprietary hardware and software.n New inroads into home marketplace (iMac)n Rarely chosen for office/business use.• •• •7Information Systems Analysis and Design csc3401999 John
View Full Document
Unlocking...