Running head: Computer Systems Architectures

Computer Systems Architectures
Kaplan University

Abstract
Computer architecture is a set of rules that say how software and hardware interact to create a network or platform. In other words computer architecture is the design of the network base on the needs of the user, the system if it is there or needs to be built, and the technology that needs to go into the project. System design is all how all the hardware is set up while the instruction set architecture is the program language.

Table of Contents
Introduction
What OS file system should we use?
What types of processors?
Cluster Architecture?
Data Backup
LAN or WAN
Web-based diagram

Introduction to Coast to Coast computing
We can get in a plane and be across the country in a few hours but what if we need to work together faster than a few hours? Is it possible? How hard is it to have users in California work with users in Washington, New York, and Florida? What has to be done to make this happen? How secure will it be to have such a network? This and many other questions come up when a company starts thinking of expansion beyond the building or city they headquartered at.
When looking at a network a business wants to be sure it is using the most cost effective form for the network. The base of a network is the architecture.
For small businesses a peer to peer architecture would be best. There are three types of peer-to-peer architecture: collaborative computing, instant messaging, and affinity communities. In collaborative computing the unused CPU processing power along with any free disk space is combined with machines on the same network. A very common peer-to-peer networking is instant messaging. Google Hangouts is an example of this where each user can communicate in real time via chat. In affinity communities there is file sharing which can produce legal issues if the files were purchased for only one user. For mid-sized business that has many users needed the same information client/server architecture would be best. A client/server architecture is an end-to-end systems that contains server hosts (contains the resources and services needed by the client) and clients (users or workstations in the network). “Most client/server networks have more than one client to a server so that the system shares computing power. There are a few different kinds of servers to include file sharing, printer services, email services, database services, web services, and a server can used for it power. Clients can access all of these different servers at one time and the servers can serve many clients.” (Techopedia, 2014) For large businesses with office throughout the country web based computing or cloud computing shows the greatest benefit. In web-based computing it is not the local computer doing all the work but rather computers off site that do the work. The user’s computer runs off of a cloud computing system’s interface software which uses the offsite network computers to do the work.

What OS file system should we use? I would recommend a Windows OS and file system. This is because Windows is straight forward. “There may be too many distributions of Linux, it's possible that this is hurting Linux in the marketplace. It could be that the lack of a Linux distro from a major computer company is also hurting it in the marketplace.” (Horowitz, 2007) The type of architecture I would use is a web-based computing. This is the easiest for users because for a client because there is nothing to do but access the account. In web-based computing it is not the local computer doing all the work but rather computers off site that do the work. With having offices all over the country a web-based computing system would make it so an employee in Washington could access their “computer” with their files at a machine in Florida. Web-based computing can be very cost beneficial. The need for onsite severs and large user computers are not needed. A business would need monitors, key boards with a mouse, and a computer with just enough power to run the middle ware. (Strickland, 2014) With web-based computing Happy Go Lucky does not need to have an extensive IT department because that would all be handled by the web-based agency. Even the security is handed by the web-based computing service because they put their rotation on the line to protect their clients. Web-based computing can be seen in many popular email sites (G-Mail, Yahoo, Hotmail). “ If you have an e-mail account with a Web-based e-mail service like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail, then you've had some experience with cloud computing. Instead of running an e-mail program on your computer, you log in to a web e-mail account remotely.” (Strickland, 2014)

What types of processors? With web-based computing we are not responsible for large computers but rather just basic systems of need monitors, key boards with a mouse, and a computer with just enough power to run the middle ware. The computers that I feel would fit Happy Go Lucky the best would contain an Intel 4th Generation Core i5 processor which can be thought of as the brains of the computer. The processor speed for the mentioned processor is 1.7 GHz. With a web-based system we need a basic computer for each work station. A hard drive size of 128 GB is more than enough space to run the web-based program the system will also have a 4GB RAM system. A wireless card is also included with the system. Why did I choose an Intel 4th Generation Core i5 processor? The graphics card is stunning and provides security. “The 4th generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor delivers amazing performance, stunning visuals, and built-in security for deeper protection.” (Intel, 2014) Happy Go Lucky specializes in video graphics for the NFL, NHL, and MLB along with the whole NASCAR family so having a system that has graphics that POP when they are shown will be a major selling point.

Cluster Architecture? Since we have chosen web-based architecture for the coast to coast network we do not have to worry about how we cluster. That will be on the company we hire to manage the network. We can though in each office create a cluster of the hardware and keep track of when it needs to upgraded. By Happy Go Lucky using a third party for our computer use it will allow for team members to be able to use their desktop on any machine in the company regardless if they are in San Francisco or Seattle.

Data Backup The company that we use for our web-based system will back-up all of our files; maintain all the software licenses, system updates, along with security. As stated before web-based architecture is also called cloud storage. Once information is in the cloud it can be accessed anywhere. With a web-based supplier we will be able to access the system where ever we are. Laptop, desktop, tablet, or smart phone will all have a code to get on the network. This will allow for team members to stay home with a sick child and be able to get the work they need to done. It will allow for team members to be at a conference and upload notes and information for other to see before the conference attendees get back. With having offices all over the country the risk of a hurricane in the Gulf to tornados in the Midwest to earthquakes in on the West Coast with cloud storage we are safe in that no information will be lost because it is not physically stored at any of our locations. Web-based is also great if we have team member on location. As long as they have a wireless connection they are able to access the network.

LAN or WAN The web-based service already has a WAN set up. We sign up for the pay service and we have access to it. The web-based service will set up the offices with the wireless internet access so we are able to access the applications infrastructure. The web-based system will store all of the applications, software needs, company contact information (to included business contacts and team members), network access information, web communications, identify users, and database, file, image, and digital media storage.

Works Cited
Horowitz, M. (2007, April). Linux vs. Windows. Retrieved from http://www.michaelhorowitz.com/Linux.vs.Windows.html
Intel. (2014). 4th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors. Retrieved from http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/core/core-i5-processor.html
Strickland, J. (2014). How Cloud Computing Works. Retrieved from HowStuffWorks: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing/cloud-computing.htm
Techopedia. (2014). Client/Server Architecture. Retrieved from Techopedia: http://www.techopedia.com/definition/438/clientserver-architecture