IT Infrastructure and Platforms

Defining IT Infrastructure

Includes hardware, software, and services

A set of physical devices and software applications that are required to operate the entire enterprise Three major levels of infrastructure

Evolution of IT Infrastructure
General-purpose mainframe and minicomputer era: (1959 to present) Personal Computer era: (1981 to present) Client/ Server era: (1983 to present) Enterprise Internet Computing era: (1992 to present)

Cloud Computing era: (Y2K onwards)

Technology Drivers of Infrastructure Evolution

Moores law and microprocessing power

Metcalfes law and network economics

The law of mass digital storage Declining communications costs and the Internet Standards and network effects

The IT Infrastructure Ecosystem

Grid Computing
Involves connecting geographically remote computers into a single network capable of working in parallel that require short-term access to large computational capacity Substitute to huge mainframes or super computers

Saves infrastructure spending, increases speed of computing, and increases the agility of firms.
Intl Grids: BITCOIN, BOINC, SETI@Home, Einstein@Home Indian Grids: GARUDA, VECC

On-Demand (Utility) Computing:

Firms off-loading peak demand for computing power to remote, large-scale data processing centers Firms pay only for the computing power they use, as with an electrical utility Developed by IBM, SUN, and HP

Autonomic Computing
Computer systems (both hardware and software) have become so complex that the cost of managing them has risen. An industry-wide effort to develop systems that can:
Configure, optimize, and tune themselves Heal themselves when broken Protect themselves from outside intruders and self-destruction

Edge Computing
A multitier, load-balancing scheme for Web-based applications. Processing load is distributed closer to the user and handled by lower-cost servers. Advantages:
Lowers cost of hardware Increases service levels Provides firm greater flexibility in responding to service requests Seasonal spikes in demand can be off-loaded to other edge servers

The four major themes in contemporary software platform evolution

Linux and open-source software Java Web services and service-oriented architecture Software outsourcing

Competitive Forces Model for IT Infrastructure

TCO of IT Assets
Hardware acquisition Software acquisition Installation Training Support Maintenance Infrastructure requirements Downtime Space and energy