Information Technology (1st Batch)

Long Question:

1. Explain the major functions of Digital Computers.

A computer is a programmable electronic machine. It takes raw facts as input, process these and
gives the final output which is the result of processing. It responds to a specific set of instructions
in a well-defined manner. It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program). Digital
computers can be classified by their size and power as follows:
 Super Computers
 Mainframe Computers
 Mini Computers
 Work Stations
 Micro Computers/ Personal Computer

To function properly, the computer needs both hardware and software. Hardware consists of the
mechanical and electronic devices, which we can see and touch. The different parts of the
computer are Processor (CPU), Input devices, Output devices, Storage devices and Memory
devices. The software consists of programs, the operating systems and the data that reside in the
memory and storage devices.

A typical digital computer system has four basic functional elements:

 input-output equipment
 main memory
 control unit
 arithmetic-logic unit

Any of a number of devices is used to enter data and program instructions into a computer and to
gain access to the results of the processing operation. Common input devices include keyboards
and optical scanners; output devices include printers and cathode-ray tube and liquid-crystal
display monitors. The information received by a computer from its input unit is stored in the
main memory or, if not for immediate use, in an auxiliary storage device. The control unit selects
and calls up instructions from the memory in appropriate sequence and relays the proper
commands to the appropriate unit. It also synchronizes the varied operating speeds of the input
and output devices to that of the arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) so as to ensure the proper
movement of data through the entire computer system. The ALU performs the arithmetic and
logic algorithms selected to process the incoming data at extremely high speeds-in many cases in
nanoseconds (billionths of a second). The main memory, control unit, and ALU together make
up the central processing unit (CPU) of most digital computer systems, while the input-output
devices and auxiliary storage units constitute peripheral equipment.

2. Explain the first, second and third normal form and compare it.
Normalization is the process of building database structures to store data. Normalization is a
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formal process of developing data structures in a manner that eliminates redundancy and

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promotes integrity. Data normalization is a corner stone of the relational theory. In relational p
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Normalization usually involves dividing a database into two or more tables and defining N
database design, the process of organizing data to minimize redundancy is called normalization.

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relationships between the tables. The objective is to isolate data so that additions, deletions, and
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modifications of a field can be made in just one table and then propagated through the rest of the
database via the defined relationships.

There are three main normal forms, each with increasing levels of normalization:

 First Normal Form (1NF): Each field in a table contains different information. For example,
in an employee list, each table would contain only one birth date field. First normal form
deals with the "shape" of a record type. Under first normal form, all occurrences of a record
type must contain the same number of fields. First normal form excludes variable repeating
fields and groups. This is not so much a design guideline as a matter of definition. Relational
database theory doesn't deal with records having a variable number of fields.
 Second Normal Form (2NF): Each field in a table that is not a determiner of the contents of
another field must itself be a function of the other fields in the table. Second normal form is
violated when a non-key field is a fact about a subset of a key. It is only relevant when the
key is composite, i.e., consists of several fields.
 Third Normal Form (3NF): No duplicate information is permitted. So, for example, if two
tables both require a birthdate field, the birthdate information would be separated into a
separate table, and the two other tables would then access the birthdate information via an
index field in the birthdate table. Any change to a birthdate would automatically be reflecting
in all tables that link to the birthdate table. Third normal form is violated when a non-key
field is a fact about another non-key field.

There are additional normalization levels, such as Boyce Codd Normal Form (BCNF), fourth
normal form (4NF) and fifth normal form (5NF). While normalization makes databases more
efficient to maintain, they can also make them more complex because data is separated into so
many different tables.

3. What do you mean by Intranet? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of Intranet.
Commonly used in different types of organizations, an intranet is very similar to an Internet, but
the difference is that an intranet is local, while the Internet is global. In other words, an intranet
(a secure information-sharing system) uses data stored on an internal corporate network, while
the Internet uses data stored on the servers all around the world. The purpose of an intranet
differs according to the type of organization where it is implemented. An intranet implements
many technologies known from the Internet, such as file transfer protocols, chat rooms, browser
interfaces, and many others. Furthermore, not all users have access to all the data stored on a
central server; this depends on the privileges and rank of each employee within the organization.
It's also relevant that many organizations have a number of computers and routers already
implemented. Therefore, an intranet can be considered as an extension to a network
infrastructure that already exists within the organization.

Advantages of an Intranet: There are numerous benefits of an intranet. One of the most
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important benefits concerns the security of the information. If maintained and administered well,

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an intranet can provide encrypted access to highly sensitive information. This information is not p
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transferred through the open networks but is available only to people inside the organization that
have the required privileges. An intranet also provides a quality and secure communication

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between employees, it uses well known e-mail clients and Internet browsers, and it can be

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implemented easily on an existing infrastructure. Some other advantages are its flexibility and
scalability as well as the access it provides to accurate information. It also provides new business
opportunities, since a company can create an extranet (a network of intranets of different
organizations) and share sensitive information easily with its clients.

 Security from outside users

 Relatively cheap to set up
 Quick access to information
 Easy and cheap to post information
 Increase in productivity

Disadvantages of an Intranet: Every network concept has disadvantages. Naturally, the security
risks come first. This does not concern only the software security issues, but also the way
employees handle their user names and passwords. Sometimes, these passwords are left on a
place where anyone can see them, while users also tend to choose simple passwords that are easy
to guess (for example, date of birth, initials, children's names, etc). Some companies are not
comfortable with this method of file and information sharing, and this technology brings
additional costs as well. Although one purpose of an intranet is to ease the process of
communication and file sharing within the organization, some employees who are not
comfortable with computer technology might be frustrated and confused with this method.

 Security from within

 New budget
 Cost of training
 Cost of maintaining
 Separate software might be needed for internet and e-mail

Short Questions:

4. What do you mean by the speed of a computer?

Computers have numerous specifications, measured in capacities or speeds. Storage devices are
measured by how much data they can store and how fast the data can be accessed. Other
components also have to access data, and can be measured by how fast that access occurs and
often how fast it can perform functions with that data. The general term, computer speed, refers
to CPU clock speed. This is how fast the CPU operates, usually measured in gigahertz (GHz).
One gigahertz is equal to 1 billion hertz, or cycles per second. So a 1 GHz computer has a CPU
that operates at 1 billion cycles per second. Operating at 1 GHz does not mean a computer can do
1 billion operations every second. Different CPUs use different instructions that affect how many
cycles it takes to complete an operation or how many operations can be completed in one cycle.
So two different CPUs might not operate practically at the same speed even if their clock speeds
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5. What do you mean by super computer?

Super computers are the computers with the most processing power. The primary application of
supercomputers has been in scientific and military work, but their use is growing in business as
their prices decreases. They are especially valuable for large simulation models of real world
phenomena, where complex mathematical representations and calculations are required or for
image creation and processing. They are also used in weather prediction, design aircraft (Boeing
777), motion picture like star wars and Jurassic Park). They operate generally at 4 to 10 times
faster than the next most powerful computer class; the mainframe computers.
Advantages: Speed, amount of things that can run at once without it slowing down, better
graphics capabilities for gaming and graphics designing, and smoother performance.
Disadvantages: Power usage, heat, cost and in the case of overclocked computers heat that leads
to damage to the components which in turn will raise the cost through replacement parts. In the
case of 64 bit processors, (which can provide better processing capabilities) there can be the
downside of compatibility issues for some software.

6. What is an auxiliary storage device?

Auxiliary storage units behave in a manner similar to other I/O devices, but users do not interact
directly with them. If you were to place yourself inside the computer, in many ways you would
not be able to distinguish among the various kinds of I/O equipment. Auxiliary storage
equipment has data transmission rates that may be significantly higher than other I/O devices but
are still much slower than the internal speeds of the processor. Auxiliary storage serves two main
purposes: it serves as an extension of the main memory or as a medium to permanently archive
information. The computer can use it as a memory extension for its own purposes outside the
control of the user. On the other hand, the user can employ the extra storage to maintain almost
limitless information. Some of the auxiliary storage devices are: Hard Disk, Optical Disk,
Magnetic Tape, and Floppy Disk.

7. What are the different types of software?

Software is a collection of set of programs, which are used to execute all kinds of specific
instruction. It consists of a number of machine instructions, array in a specific order to perform a
particular task. Software is used to describe all the programs and its associated documents which
run on a computer. Software means computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored
electronically is software. Firmware is software (programs or data) that has been permanently
written onto read-only memory (ROM). All software falls into two general types or categories:
System Software and Application Software. System software consists of low-level programs that
interact with the computer at very basic level. This includes operating systems, compilers, and
utilities for managing resources. On the other hand, Application software includes database
programs, word processors, and spreadsheets.

8. What do you mean by multitasking?

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Multitasking is the ability to execute more than one task at the same time, a task being a
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program. The terms multitasking and multiprocessing are often used interchangeably, although
multiprocessing implies that more than one CPU is involved. In multitasking, only one CPU is
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involved, but it switches from one program to another so quickly that it gives the appearance of

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executing all of the programs at the same time. There are two basic types of multitasking:
preemptive and cooperative. In preemptive multitasking, the operating system parcels out CPU
time slices to each program. In cooperative multitasking, each program can control the CPU for
as long as it needs it. If a program is not using the CPU, however, it can allow another program
to use it temporarily. OS/2, Windows 95, Windows NT, the Amiga operating system and UNIX
use preemptive multitasking, whereas Microsoft Windows 3.x and the MultiFinder (for
Macintosh computers) use cooperative multitasking.

9. Differentiate between high level language and low level language.

The differences between high level language and low level languages are pointed out below:
 Learning: High level languages are easy to learn whereas Low level languages are difficult to
learn.
 Understanding: High level languages are near to human languages whereas Low level
languages are far from human languages.
 Execution: Programs in high level languages are slow in execution whereas programs in low
level languages are fast in execution.
 Modification: Programs in high level languages are easy to modify whereas programs in low
level languages are difficult to modify.
 Facility at hardware level: High level languages do not provide much facility at hardware
level whereas Low level languages provide facility to write programs at hardware level.
 Knowledge of hardware Deep: Knowledge of hardware is not required to write programs in
high level language whereas in low level language deep knowledge of hardware is required
to write programs.
 Uses: High level languages are normally used to write application programs whereas Low
level languages are normally used to write hardware programs.

10. What are the advantages of using a database?

The advantages of using a database are as follows:
 Reduction in data redundancy: Redundancy can be controlled using DBMS. Thus, space is
efficiently used. The existing applications can share the data in the database. Reduces
problem of inconsistencies in stored information, e.g. different addresses in different
departments for the same customer.
 Maintenance of data integrity and quality: Integrity means that the data in the database is
accurate. Centralized control of the data helps in permitting the administrator to define
integrity constraints to the data in the database.
 Data are self-documented or self-descriptive: Information on the meaning or interpretation of
the data can be stored in the database, e.g. names of items, metadata.
 Avoidance of inconsistencies: Reducing the redundancy also avoids the inconsistency of data.
Data must follow prescribed models, rules, standards.
 Security restrictions : With complete authority over the operational data, the database
administrator can ensure that the only means of access to the database is through proper
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data is attempted. Different checks can be established for each type of access (retrieve, p
channels. He can define authorization checks to be carried out whenever access to sensitive

modify, delete, etc). to each piece of information in the database.

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11. What are the different types of network architectures?

Network architecture refers to the layout of the network, consisting of the hardware, software,
connectivity, communication protocols and mode of transmission, such as wired or wireless.
Network architectures are classified into two broad categories: client-server architectures, peer-
to-peer architectures.
In the client-server architectural model, a system is decomposed into client and server
processors or processes. Servers provide computational resources (or services), which clients
consume. Typically a server provides services to many clients. It is also common for clients to
consume services from multiple services. Stated otherwise, there is generally a 1:M relationship
between a server and its clients, and it is sometimes the case that there is a 1:M relationship
between a client and the servers that it uses. Client-server architectures are commonly organized
into layers referred to as “tiers”. In a peer-to-peer architecture model, a system is decomposed
into computational nodes that have equivalent capabilities and responsibilities. This division is in
contrast to a client-server architectural model, where client and server nodes are divided into
server and client roles. An example of a peer-to-peer architecture is a system of intelligent agents
that collaborate to collect, filter, and correlate information.

12. How can you define the addresses on the Internet?

A unique numeric identifier, divided into four octets, assigned to machines on the Internet or an
intranet is called internet address. This 32-bit numerical address is used so machines can identify
and locate each other for the purpose of sending and receiving data. Internet address is either the
address of a webpage or a website, or an email address. The proper name for a website address is
Uniform Resource Locator (URL). An internet address uniquely identifies a node on the
Internet. Internet address may also refer to the name or IP of a website (URL). The term Internet
address can also represent someone's e-mail address. The format for addressing a message to an
Internet user is USER NAME @ DOMAIN NAME. For example, the address of the solution
maker of this subject is [email protected]. There are no spaces between any of the words.
SULAV is the user name and CSITNEPAL.COM is the domain name. The .COM stands for the
commercial top level domain category.

13. What are the components of a data warehouse?

The primary components of data warehouse are as follows:
 Data sources: It refers to any electronic repository of information where data is passed from
these systems to the data warehouse either on a transaction by transaction basis for real-time
data warehouses or on a regular cycle.
 Data transformation: This layer receives data from the data sources, cleans and standardizes
it, and loads it into the data repository.
 Reporting: The data in the data warehouse must be available to all the users if the data
warehouse is to be useful.
 Metadata: Metadata or “data about data”, is used to inform users of the data warehouse about
its status and the information held within the data warehouse.
 Operations: Data warehouse operations comprises of the processes of loading, manipulating
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and extracting data from the data warehouse. Operations also cover user management,
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security, and capacity management.
 Optional components: In addition, the following components also exist in some data
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warehouses: dependent data marts, logical data marts, and operational data store.
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