In client server computing, the clients requests a resource and the server provides that resource. A server may serve multiple clients at the same time while a client is in contact with only one server. Both the client and server usually communicate via a computer network but sometimes they may reside in the same system.An illustration of the client server system is given as follows −Characteristics of Client Server ComputingThe salient points for client server computing are as follows:The client server computing works with a system of request and response. The client sends a request to the server and the ... Read More

A single processor system contains only one processor. So only one process can be executed at a time and then the process is selected from the ready queue. Most general purpose computers contain the single processor systems as they are commonly in use.A single processor system can be further described using the diagram below −As in the above diagram, there are multiple applications that need to be executed. However, the system contains a single processor and only one process can be executed at a time.Differences Between Single Processor and Multiprocessor SystemsThere are many differences between single processor and multiprocessor systems.Some ... Read More

Most computer systems are single processor systems i.e., they only have one processor. However, multiprocessor or parallel systems are increasing in importance nowadays. These systems have multiple processors working in parallel that share the computer clock, memory, bus, peripheral devices etc. An image demonstrating the multiprocessor architecture is − Types of MultiprocessorsThere are mainly two types of multiprocessors i.e. symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessors. Details about them are as follows −Symmetric MultiprocessorsIn these types of systems, each processor contains a similar copy of the operating system and they all communicate with each other. All the processors are in a peer to ... Read More

A process is an active program i.e a program that is under execution. It contains the program code, program counter, process stack, registers etc.Process StatesThe different states that a process is in during its execution are explained using the following diagram −New- The process is in new state when it has just been created.Ready - The process is waiting to be assigned the processor by the short term scheduler.Running - The process instructions are being executed by the processor.Waiting - The process is waiting for some event such as I/O to occur.Terminated - The process has completed its execution.Process Control ... Read More

Volatile and Non-Volatile storage are the two forms of storage in any computer system.Volatile StorageThis is a type of computer memory that remains while there is power and the data is lost when power is switched off. A prime example of volatile memory is RAM. It is a type of primary storage. It allows the user to randomly access any part of the data regardless of its position in roughly the same time. This is not possible using other storage devices such as hard disks, CD’s etc. because they have physical constraints such rotation speeds, arm movements etc.There are mainly ... Read More

Fiber optic cables are finding increasing usage due to a number of advantages over the traditional copper wires. However, there are a few flipsides in its usage too.Advantages of Fiber Optics Cables over Copper WiresFiber optic cables transmit data at much higher speed than copper wires. This is because the speed of light is greater than the speed of electrons.Fiber optic cables have a much larger bandwidth of over 60 Tbps in comparison to 10 Gbps bandwidth of copper wires.Fiber optic cables have very low attenuation. Repeaters need to be added only after every 50 km as compared to 5 ... Read More

Optical fiber cables are transparent, flexible fibers made up of glass or plastic through which light waves can pass. A bunch of fiber optic cables is shown in the following diagram −Structure of a Fiber – Optic CableA cross section of a fiber optic cable reveals three parts −Core −  It is the innermost portion of an optical fiber through which light propagates. It is cylindrical in shape and it made up of a flexible glass of high refractive index. The diameter of the core of a single mode fiber is 8 – 10 μm while multimode fibers are 50 ... Read More

In fiber optic communication, signals are transmitted through an optical fiber. This is based upon certain characteristics of light, namely refraction and total internal reflection.RefractionWhen a light ray goes from a denser transmission medium to a rarer one or vice versa, then its direction changes at the interface of the two medium. This phenomenon is called refraction of light.The density of an optical medium is measured in refractive index. Higher the refractive index, denser it is.The angle between the incident ray and the normal is called angle of incidence Θi, while the angle between the refracted ray and the normal ... Read More

In fiber optic communication, data is transmitted from the source to the destination by sending light pulses through optical fibers. It changes electrical pulses to light signals and vice versa for communication. Fiber optic communications are preferred when a huge amount of data needs to be transmitted across large distances.The process of communication using fiber optics has the following steps −Conversion of input electrical data to light signals : The data to be sent by the sender is in the form of electrical signals. These signals are converted to light pulses by the transmitter circuitry using a light source. A ... Read More

Multidimensional databases are used mostly for OLAP (online analytical processing) and data warehousing. They can be used to show multiple dimensions of data to users .A multidimensional database is created from multiple relational databases. While relational databases allow users to access data in the form of queries, the multidimensional databases allow users to ask analytical questions related to business or market trends.The multidimensional databases uses MOLAP (multidimensional online analytical processing) to access its data. They allow the users to quickly get answers to their requests by generating and analysing the data rather quickly.The data in multidimensional databases is stored in ... Read More