Computer Introduction 1

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Computer Introduction1

• For HD-111
• Computer Ed Institute
• July/Aug, 2003

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What is a computer?

• Input, Output, Process, Storage
• Von Neumann Model
• Primary, Secondary storage
• I/O in a local/LAN/WAN context
• DOS vs. NOS

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Physical

• What is physical?
• Hardware/software equipment
• Security perimeter
• Physical access to components, infrastructure

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Logical

• What is non-physical or logical?
• A directory structure, a specification/protocol
• Logical access to resources interactive vs.
  network logon
• classification by user, information

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Views of Information Technology

• People, property, processes
• User Management, Resource Management
• What is Hard/Soft/Logical?
• What are acronyms?
• What are models?
• Layer models for troubleshooting
• Function or Use Case models for analysis

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Function

• What is functional or conceptual?
• A service, a collection of system programs
• Views from perspective of business, application
  software, technology
• Layering function according to presentation,
  business (application) logic, storage
• Layering function according to physical
  connectivity or data flow
• Analyzing function according to actors and uses
  consumers and services

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Jobs/Certifications

• People, Property/Resources, Process/Services -
  MCSE
• People, Property/Resources
• - MCSA
• Property/Resources, Process/Services
• - Network
• Property/Resources, Process/Services
• - A

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Real World - Objectives
Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 100

• Basic Networking 40
• Printers 40
• Preventive Maintenance 10
• Installation, configuration, upgrade 5
• Motherboard/Processor/Memory 5

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An IT relationship
Software Applications Services
Software Core Operating System
Firmware BIOS/CMOS/ESCD
Hardware backplane with power, chipset, and
communication busses
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Spheres of Control
Operating System Software
A P S TN DP
Logical
User
API
Kernel
TDI
Physical/Hardware
Firmware
NDIS
PHY
Physical
Not to scale!!!
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What is hardware?

• Power supply unit
• power distribution and voltage regulation
• System board
• chipset/BIOS
• bus architecture system, mezzanine, etc.
• expansion capabilities
• CPU and storage primary and secondary
• I/O subsystems
• video, keyboard, mouse
• USB/IEEE1394
• Network connectivity

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Kinds of physical property

• Data handled by machines
• standalone
• network
• Internet (network of networks)
• Input/Output devices
• Network connectivity
• Processor and Primary/Secondary Storage

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Hardware Study Areas

• Peripherals
• Video card/monitor
• Sound/CDROM
• Modem
• Printers
• Laptops
• Basic Networking
• Maintenance issues

• Power supplies
• System board and chipset
• ROM/CMOS/RAM
• Processors
• Cables/connectors
• ATA Drives/Floppy
• SCSI Devices
• Expansion buses

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Physical Storage

• What is a storage system for data?
• Short term Primary vs. Long term Secondary
• Static vs. Dynamic
• Volatile vs. Non-volatile
• Read-only Memory (ROM) vs. Random Access Memory
  (RAM)
• Volatile Memory vs. non-volatile Storage

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File Systems

• What is a file structure? Data structures?
• Flat vs. Hierarchical organization
• Root, branch, leaf directory/folder,
  subdirectory/subfolder
• Path
• False root
• Absolute vs. relative addresses

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What is software?

• What is system software?
• What is application software?
• What is a client-server configuration?
• What is network vs. web-based control?
• Impact of MMC and the browser client
• What is distributed services?

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Navigational objects/cues

• OS Command Line Interface
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• vs Text User Interface (TUI)
• Windows as a multiple document interface
• What are navigational objects? Bars, Buttons,
  Components
• Files (documents), folders (directories)

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Assets / resources

• Information is composed of data.
• What is content?
• Data
• What is syntax?
• Rules, selector, property, values
• What is format?
• Appearance
• What is a command procedure?
• Instructions
• What is a transmission?
• Interaction between at least two op

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What is a process?

• Resources/Processes/Services
• Issues of redundancy and fault tolerance
• Complexity of process prioritization and control

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What is a network?

• LAN/MAN/WAN
• Intranet/Internet/Extranet
• NOS function
• Topology site geography
• Media Access
• Infrastructure
• Services

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Models / Block Diagrams

• Van Neumann Machine
• System block diagrams
• Network models
• Open System Interconnection RF
• Microsoft 4-layered model
• DOD 4-layered model
• Presentation/Logic/Data Storage
• Entity Relation Diagrams
• Use Case

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Functional Models

• Application (Presentation)
• Processing (Logical)
• Physical (Data Storage/Hardware)
• Centralized vs. Distributed services
• Impact on security

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Specific Management Functional Areas

• Security Management (services)
• Accounting Management (services)
• Performance Management (services)
• Fault Management (services)
• Configuration Management (services)

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SMFA services
Security Authentication/Authorization
Auditing
NOS
Performance Fault Configuration
DOS/client
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Save Energy Take the Bus
Functional paths

• Power/Cooling
• Address/Data
• Control

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ISO and IEEE Architectural Standards

• IEEE 802.2 Media Access Control Layer
• (MAC address)
• IEEE 802.3 Carrier Sense Multiple Access
• 10Base5, 10Base2, 10BaseT, 100BaseT, 802.3z
• IEEE 802.4 Token Bus
• IEEE 802.5 Token Ring
• IEEE 802.10 Security specifications!!!
• IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks

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Network Protocols

• Simplex vs. half/full Duplex
• RS-232 and a null modem connection
• Multiuser Transport Protocols
• TCP/IP - TCP vs. UDP, Internet Protocol
• NetBEUI Windows workgroups
• IPX/SPX (NWlink) Novell clients
• LocalTalk Apple/Macintosh workgroups
• API protocols HTTP, SMTP, DNS, NetBIOS

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Review Chapter 1

• Computer Functional Components
• Input/Output/Processor/Storage (1)
• Categories based on hardware size
• Hardware Components (10)
• Data Components (11)
• Data on Internet, User Ids, passwords (22) Refer
  to later classes
• Web Basics (28) Refer to later classes
• Browsers, Search Engines (34)
• Email services (36)
• Key Terms Page 52

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To be Continued
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Steps to Define/Isolate/Resolve

• Define the problem scope
• hard/soft power, addressing, data, etc.
• Determine the best level for resolution
• Isolate ONE suspect source at a time
• Resolve your defined problem scope if possible,
  replicate on a different system
• Communicate/Transmit/document

DIRECT a troubleshooting acronym
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Troubleshooting Guidelines

• Visually inspect and manipulate (pull/reseat)
• Use a good FRU where appropriate for testing
• Confirm BIOS/OS configuration
• Replace labor-intensive and/or expensive parts

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Save Energy Take the Bus
Functional paths

• Power/Cooling
• Address/Data
• Control

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A Power Bus Punchlist

• Has a PC or peripheral failed? no power
  indicator
• Short, lead pull-through, trace breaks/ board
  cracks
• AC source/ground fault circuit interrupt
• Does the PC or peripheral operate intermittently?
• A third variable like a resource conflict or heat?

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Data/Address Bus Punchlist

• Check orientation of cable connections.
• Where is pin 1? Is the connector keyed?
• Is the bus terminated correctly?
• Are the devices properly identified on the bus?
  In the OS? In the BIOS?
• Has some component or configuration recently
  changed?

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Control Bus Punchlist

• Input/Output (I/O) Port Address
• I/O Memory Address
• Interrupt Request Line (IRQ)
• Direct Memory Access (DRQ)
• Do we need to modify the BIOS?
• Legacy ISA/ICU or PnP compatibility
• PCI bus IRQ Steering and PnP

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1st Round - Visual inspection

• Have you traced all functional busses?
• Follow the physical paths supporting power and
  address/data transfers
• Isolate and reseat each connector
• Where appropriate, use either a different
  connector or different expansion slot

Do you know the typical symptoms of a bad
cable connection?
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2nd Round - BIOS config. management

• Confirm CMOS settings for power and speeds
• Confirm CMOS settings for expansion bus devices.
  Do you have legacy devices in the system?

What are the typical symptoms of poor or
incorrect BIOS settings?
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3rd Round - OS config. management

• Using Device Manager, confirm system resource
  allocations
• Confirm the proper installation and current
  versions of driver software
• Typically keep driver software updated and
  current. Document ALL software updates.

What are the typical symptoms of an incorrect
driver?