– CPU
There are three key elements of a computer that determine its speed and capability:
- The speed of the central processing unit (CPU)
- The amount of random-access memory (RAM)
- The ability of the graphics processing unit (GPU)
The CPU is the brains of the computer. The faster the CPU the quicker the computer can perform tasks and exchange signals with the RAM.
– Network:
In business, computers needs to be connected together so they can share the data and information easily.
For internal, employee-only communication then a local area network (LAN) might suffice.
To connect the computers over large distance, we have to use Wide area network (WAN) using internet, intranets or extranet.
– Server:
Servers are used to manage network traffic, share data in applications and store data (if necessary). The more CPU speed and RAM that the server has the greater number of users who can access the network at once and the quicker the network will work.
– Backups:
The server holds a lot of vital information that is accessed and created by users. It will therefore be vital that this data is backed up regularly.
E-business infrastructure is the combination of hardware, software and content used to deliver e-business to both employees and customers. The quality of the hardware will have a direct link to the quality of the e-business offered. The hardware decisions that an organisation will face include areas such as:
1) Computer:
There are three key elements of a computer that determine its speed and capability:
– The speed of the central processing unit (CPU)
– The amount of random-access memory (RAM)
– The ability of the graphics processing unit (GPU)
The CPU is the brains of the computer. The faster the CPU the quicker the computer can perform tasks and exchange signals with the RAM.
The more RAM that the computer has then the more tasks it can complete at once. This may be important, for example, if employees need to have more than one software application open at once such as a customer enquiry portal and an inventory portal.
The GPU are designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images. The better the GPU then the quicker that the outcome of tasks can be displayed visually, for example.
2) Network:
In e-business, computers cannot stand alone. They need to be connected together so that users can share data and more easily and quickly communicate with each other. For internal, employee-only communication then a local area network (LAN) might suffice. This is where the computers are physically linked via wiring to each other. However, this will restrict access to those who are physically wired into the system and will make it very difficult to connect users over large distances.
Therefore, it is more common to use a wide area network (WAN) using internets, intranets and extranets that are connected through infrastructure provided by internet service providers (ISPs). These WANs allow very fast communication and transfer of data over large distances.
3) Servers:
Servers are used to manage network traffic, share data in applications and store data (if necessary). The more CPU speed and RAM that the server has the greater number of users who can access the network at once and the quicker the network will work.
4) Back-up:
The server holds a lot of vital information that is accessed and created by users. It will therefore be vital that this data is backed up regularly (and later in the chapter we consider how the data can be made physically secure and access to the data can be limited to the correct users).
Data will be stored on a hard disk and a typical server will have 5 hard disks working together in what is known as a RAID system. 2 disks hold and share the data with users and these 2 disks are then copied (or mirrored) regularly to 2 back-up disks. A fifth disk is ready to step into action if one of the other disks fail.
