IS
Chapter 1
- Systems Architecture definition
- Why knowledge of systems architecture is important to different roles and job titles (high-level overview from online lecture and in-class discussion)
Chapter 2
- Definition of a computer, functions
- Types of implementations for automated computation
- Limitations of early mechanical systems; advantages of electronic implementation, optical, quantum computing
- Processor function, types (distinction between general-purpose and special-purpose)
- Function of components (primary storage; bus; secondary storage; I/O)
- CPU components – CU, ALU, Registers
- Computer types and classifications
- Virtualization
- Multicomputer configurations – cluster, blade, grid, cloud
- Types of software classifications – distinction between application programs, utility programs, and system software; layered approach to software design
- Operating System functions
Chapter 3
- Data representation – definition
- Reasons for binary representation
- Numbering systems
- Conversions (bin-hex-decimal); unsigned integers; signed integers (two’s complement method only) – note: be able to do this without a calculator
- Goals/Tradeoffs of data representation/encoding methods – be sure that you know CARES and be able to explain goals and tradeoffs in context of the primitive data types; how are they related;
- Five primitive data types
- Problems of range limitations (how caused), overflow and underflow; precision and truncation
- Character data representation (ASCII, EBCDIC, Unicode) – basic differences, impact on range/compactness/standardization
- Data structures (arrays, linked list, doubly-linked list)
