What is cloud computing, its benefits, and how does it differ from traditional infrastructure? Illustrate with diagrams.

QUESTION 7

(i) Cloud Computing

A. What do you understand by cloud computing?
Cloud computing is the delivery of on-demand computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet ("the cloud"). Instead of owning computing infrastructure or data centers, companies can access these services from a cloud provider.

B. List and explain THREE benefits of cloud computing to these companies.

• Cost Savings: Companies can significantly reduce capital expenditure by not having to purchase and maintain their own physical servers and infrastructure. They pay only for the resources they consume, converting large upfront costs into predictable operational expenses.
• Scalability and Elasticity: Cloud computing allows companies to easily scale their resources up or down based on demand. This means they can quickly provision more resources during peak times and reduce them during off-peak periods, optimizing performance and cost without over-provisioning.
• Increased Reliability and Data Recovery: Cloud providers typically offer robust infrastructure with built-in redundancy, backup, and disaster recovery capabilities. This ensures higher uptime and better protection against data loss compared to managing on-premise systems.

C. With the illustration of diagrams, differentiate between the peer-to-peer and the client-server architectures.

• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Architecture: In a P2P network, all connected computers (peers) have equal capabilities and responsibilities. Each peer can act as both a client and a server, sharing resources directly with other peers without a central server.

  [Peer A] <-----> [Peer B] <-----> [Peer C]
     ^                 ^                 ^
     |                 |                 |
     v                 v                 v
  [Resource]        [Resource]        [Resource]
  

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• Client-Server Architecture: In a client-server network, dedicated servers provide services and resources to client computers. Clients request services (e.g., data, files, processing) from the server, and the server responds to these requests. The server is a central point of control and resource management.

               [Server]
               /   |   \
              /    |    \
             /     |     \
      [Client 1] [Client 2] [Client 3]
  

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(ii) Define the following:

A. Operating system
An operating system (OS) is a software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. It acts as an intermediary between the user and the computer hardware.

B. Batch operating system
A batch operating system processes jobs in batches without direct user interaction. Users submit jobs (programs with data) to an operator, who groups similar jobs together and runs them as a single batch.

C. Real time operating system
A real-time operating system (RTOS) is an operating system intended for applications with strict time constraints. It guarantees that critical operations will be executed within a specified deadline, often used in embedded systems, industrial control, and robotics.

D. Distributed operating system
A distributed operating system manages a group of independent computers and makes them appear to the users as a single coherent system. It allows resources and processing power to be shared across multiple machines, enhancing performance, reliability, and scalability.

(iii) Flowcharts and Programming

A. Define the term flowchart. Write any two advantages of a flowchart.
A flowchart is a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm, workflow, or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds and their order by connecting them with arrows.

• Advantages:
  • Better Communication: Flowcharts provide a clear, visual representation of a process, making it easier for different teams or individuals to understand the logic.
  • Effective Analysis: They help in analyzing a problem more effectively by breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps, which can aid in identifying inefficiencies or potential issues.

B. Explain the term 'syntax' as used in programming.
In programming, syntax refers to the set of rules that define the combinations of symbols that are considered to be correctly structured statements or expressions in a particular programming language. It dictates how code must be written for the compiler or interpreter to understand it.

C. Draw a flowchart to accept two numbers, if the first number is greater than the second number, print their sum, otherwise print their product.

graph TD
    A[Start] --> B{Input Num1, Num2}
    B --> C{Is Num1 > Num2?}
    C -- Yes --> D[Sum = Num1 + Num2]
    C -- No --> E[Product = Num1 * Num2]
    D --> F[Print Sum]
    E --> G[Print Product]
    F --> H[Stop]
    G --> H

QUESTION 8

(i) Communication Systems

A. Differentiate between half-duplex and full-duplex transmission modes.

• Half-duplex transmission allows data to flow in both directions, but not simultaneously. Data can be transmitted from A to B, or from B to A, but only one direction at a time.
• Full-duplex transmission allows data to flow in both directions simultaneously. Both sender and receiver can transmit and receive data at the same time.

B. List and explain 3 things to consider when choosing a network topology.

• Cost: This includes the cost of