Co mputer Hardware a nd N etwork Systems Term s

1. Computer Hardware and Network Systems Terms Lucas Abbott

2. Computer Platform (OS – Operating Systems) • An operating system is an interface between hardware and user. An OS is basically the nucleus of the computer, and is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the resources of the computer. The operating system acts as a host for computing applications run on the machine

3. Processor (CPU) A Central Processing Unit (CPU) or processor is an electronic circuit that can execute computer programs, which are actually sets of instructions. The form, design, and implementation of CPUs have changed dramatically since the earliest examples, but their basic function remains much the same.

4. Random Access Memory (RAM) • Random-access memory (usually referred to as RAM) is a form of computer data storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order (i.e., at random). The word random refers to the fact that any piece of data can be returned in a constant time, regardless of its physical location and whether or not it is related to the previous piece of data.

5. Hard Disk (Hard Drive) • A hard disk drive(often shortened as hard disk, hard drive, or HDD) is a non-volatile storage device that stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces.

6. Serial cable (Windows) • A serial cable is a cable that can be used to transfer information between two devices using serial communication, often using the RS-232 standard. Serial cables may use D-subminiature connectors with 9 or 25 pins, but other connectors are used. A specially wired cable used for connecting two similar computer serial ports directly is known as a null modem.

7. Parallel cable (windows) • Parallel ATA (PATA) is an interface standard for the connection of storage devices such as hard disks, solid-state drives, and CD-ROM drives in computers

8. Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) (Mac/Windows) • Small Computer System Interface, or SCSI (pronounced scuzzy), is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it can connect a wide range of other devices, including scanners and CD drives. The SCSI standard defines command sets for specific device types; the presence of "unknown" as one of these types means that in theory it can be used as an interface to almost any device, but the standard is highly pragmatic and addressed toward commercial requirements. Hay what up

9. Universal Serial Bus (USB) (Mac/Windows) USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a way of setting up communication between a computer and peripheral devices. USB is intended to replace many varieties of serial and parallel ports. USB can connect computer peripherals such as mice, keyboards, PDAs, gamepads and joysticks, scanners, digital cameras, printers, personal media players, flash drives, and external hard drives. For many of those devices, USB has become the standard connection method. USB was designed for personal computers, and as a power cord between a device and an AC adapter plugged into a wall plug for charging. As of 2008, there are about 2 billion USB devices sold per year, and about 6 billion total sold to date. The design of USB is standardized by the USB Implemented Forum (USB-IF), an industry standards body incorporating leading companies from the computer and electronics industries. Notable members have included Agere (now merged with LSI Corporation), Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Microsoft and NEC.