Lesson 7

This module discussed the core eBusiness infrastructure technologies to make sound decisions about the tools needed for a particular solution. More specifically, you should now be able to perform the following tasks:

1. Define the role of hardware
2. Describe the considerations surrounding the adoption and implementation of hardware
3. Define the role of operating systems
4. Describe the considerations surrounding the adoption and implementation of operating systems
5. Describe how systems management products work and affect eBusiness solutions

If you would like to see which vendors sell the tools discussed in this module, go to the Vendors list on the Resources page. Vendors are categorized by product and by module.

This module discussed the issues in the globalization context of the Internet, electronic commerce and the resulting global digital divide. The module included a discussion of global electronic commerce and its advantages and disadvantages; role of governments in enacting regulations and laws to address cross-border issues arising due to the Internet; privacy and security issues that impact the growth of electronic commerce as a result of the lack of consensus among sovereign entities; the state of telecommunication and physical infrastructure, which are still nonexistent in many parts of the world; the state of financial services; and the cultural issues that impact the adoption and growth of Internet technologies and electronic commerce.

Here are some terms introduced in this module that may be new to you:

1. ASPs: A hosted applications solution that the buying organization does not need to install any new server hardware; it is a form of applications outsourcing.
2. Hardware: Machinery and equipment such as CPUs, disks, tapes, modems, and cables. In operation, a computer is both hardware and software. One is useless without the other. The hardware design specifies the commands it can follow, and the instructions tell it what to do.
3. ISPs: An organization that provides access to the Internet. Small Internet service providers (ISPs) provide service via modem and ISDN while the larger ones also offer private line hookups (T1 or fractional T1). Customers are generally billed a fixed rate per month, but other charges may apply. For a fee, a Web site can be created and maintained on the ISP's server, allowing the smaller organization to have a presence on the Web with its own domain name.
4. Linux: A version of UNIX that runs on x86, Alpha and PowerPC machines. Linux is open source software, which is freely available; however, the full distribution of Linux along with technical support and training are available for a fee from vendors.
   The distribution CD-ROMs includes the complete source code as well as hundreds of tools, applets and utilities. Due to its stability, Linux has gained popularity with ISPs as the OS for hosting Web servers.
5. Operating systems: Arguable the most important program that runs on a computer. An operating system (OS) performs basic tasks such as recognizing input from the keyboard and sending output to a display screen

You have already learned about networking and other core technologies that are part of any eBusiness solution. In the next module, you will learn about the final element of the eBusiness infrastructure: web technologies.

Click the Quiz link below to review the key concepts that you learned in this module.
Hardware Categories - Quiz