Some Thoughts on PC Hardware
Now that we've discussed NICs and some of the connectivity devices you will run into when you network computers, we will finish out the chapter by looking at some other critical pieces of PC hardware—specifically, motherboards, processors, hard drives, and RAM. We need to discuss these hardware components because they inherently affect a PC's overall performance. Understanding how these hardware components fit into the overall PC hardware puzzle will help you when it is time for you to select hardware for network clients or network servers. Since this book serves as a primer to networking and network hardware, you should consult a heavy-duty reference such as Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller, published by Que.
First, let's take a look at some issues related to motherboards. Then we can take a look at processors, hard drives, and memory.
Motherboards
The motherboard is the main system board for a PC, and it provides the data highway (or bus system) that moves data between components on the motherboard and the PC's processor. The speed of data moving along the bus is measured in megahertz (MHz). Although 66MHz was the standard for PCs running a Pentium (or Pentium clone) processor, motherboards can now operate as fast as 100 to 133MHz (and faster bus systems from a number of motherboard manufacturers are just beyond the horizon). A motherboard is specific to the type of processor run on the computer. An IBM/PC clone motherboard using an Intel processor will be designed differently from an Apple iMac motherboard, which uses a Motorola processor.
NOTE
Motherboards have different designations, such as ATX and LPX. These designations refer to the footprint of the motherboard as well as the overall design of the motherboard and will therefore determine certain hardware choices.
The motherboard also provides all the slots for the computer's processor and memory. Areas to connect hard drives (and drives such as CD-ROM drives) with ribbon cables are also present on the motherboard, as are expansion slots (PCI and ISA) for other devices, such as sound cards and network interface cards.
Motherboards are also characterized by the type of connection provided for the processor. A Socket 7 motherboard uses a processor that is typically a small square attached to a socket on the motherboard with a bunch of little pins. Intel, AMD, and Cyrix make processors for Socket 7 motherboards.
Slot 1 and Slot 2 motherboards provide a larger "slot" for the processor, and the slot processor is typically a rectangle (it looks like a very small brick). Figure 3.9 shows an Abit slot-1 IBM/compatible motherboard (Abit is the manufacturer of the motherboard).
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Figure 3.9 Motherboards come in a number of different configurations and sizes.
A number of the Slot 1 motherboards available on the market also supply space for dual processors. This makes the Slot 1 motherboard appropriate for high-end client workstations or network servers.
Although how fast a computer can work with data is really ultimately decided by the computer's processor, deciding on a particular motherboard should probably be determined, in part, by the features the motherboard's chipset provides. The chipset determines the ceiling for the bus speed. Chipsets provide DMA support (discussed earlier in this chapter in the section "Selecting a NIC") and other features, such as an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP provides faster video response). These features will also boost the overall performance of the computer.
Processors
The processor is really the brain of the computer. It processes binary information input by the user or received from other devices on the computer, such as the network interface card. Processor speed is measured in megahertz (MHz). The Intel processor used on the original IBM PC ran at 8MHz. Processors are now available that run in excess of 1,000MHz (that is, 1GHz or gigahertz). Figure 3.10 shows an Intel Celeron 400MHz processor (on the left) for use on a Socket 7 motherboard and a Slot 1 Intel 300MHz Pentium II processor.
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Figure 3.10 Processors are built to fit into a particular place on a motherboard.
Processors are manufactured by a number of different companies, including Intel, Motorola, Cyrix, and AMD. The selection of the processor type and speed, as far as networking is concerned, will depend on whether you are configuring a client machine or a network server. Faster (and even multiple) processors are a must on a server that needs to process a large number of calls for data from users on the network.
Basically, you should choose the processor you want to use for a computer and allow that choice to determine the motherboard you use for the computer. This helps narrow the choice of motherboards down to those that support the processor.
Memory
There seems to be as many memory types for personal computers as there are types of apples. Computer memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) is the working storage area. It is used by the processor and other devices to temporarily store information, and it's also accessed by software as we work on our computers.
You can't just install any type of RAM on your motherboard; it is actually dictated by the chipset the manufacturer places on the motherboard. This means you need to know the type of RAM that is compatible with a particular motherboard.
RAM comes in two basic formats: SIMMS and DIMMS. A SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module) is a epoxy-coated silicon wafer that contains a number of memory chips. The SIMM fits into a slot on the motherboard. SIMMs must be placed on the motherboard in identical pairs (there are typically four SIMM slots on a motherboard). This means that to have 64MB of memory on the motherboard, two 32MB SIMMs would be installed.
A DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module) contains memory chips like a SIMM but actually provides a greater density of memory chips and therefore more RAM. DIMMs do not have to be installed in pairs, and there are typically three DIMM slots on a motherboard. This means that a computer with 128MB of memory would only require the installation of one 128MB DIMM. All the newer motherboards use DIMMs (although you might find some motherboards that have slots for both DIMMs and SIMMs).
RAM speed has been historically measured in nanoseconds (ns). The lower the nanosecond rating for the RAM, the faster the RAM. For example, 10ns RAM would be faster than 30ns RAM. The speed of newer RAM memory is now measured in MHz. Currently, 100 and 133MHz RAM is available. These two RAM speeds are roughly equivalent to 12ns and 8ns, respectively.
As mentioned earlier, a number of different RAM types are available, and the type used is dictated by the motherboard used on the computer. Although memory has changed dramatically since the advent of the PC, the RAM types listed here are all types you might find on a motherboard designed for a Pentium processor (clone processor motherboard):
Fast Page Mode (FPM) memory. This type of RAM is mounted in SIMM modules of 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32MB and is the traditional RAM type. FPM RAM is typically found in 60ns and 70ns versions. You cannot mix different speeds on the same motherboard.
Extended Data Output (EDO) RAM. This RAM type is an improvement of FPM RAM that provides for the faster reading of data. EDO RAM is usually sold in 60 and 50ns versions. The 50ns version is available at a higher cost. EDO RAM is mounted in SIMM modules.
Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM). This RAM type is a newer memory type and is used in most new PCs. This memory type is typically called PC100 or PC133 RAM, depending on its speed. SDRAM comes in DIMMs and has an access time of only 12 to 8ns (PC100 and PC133 RAM, respectively) This type of RAM is called synchronous because it's actually able to synchronize itself with the speed of the motherboard.
Double Data Rate-Synchronous DRAM (DDR-SDRAM). The newest RAM type, which is still only supported by a few motherboard manufacturers, is DDR-SDRAM. This type of RAM is actually able to transfer data twice during the motherboard's clock cycle (which is measured in MHz). This means that this type of RAM can be twice as fast as other RAM types. DDR-SDRAM comes in DIMMs.
Bottom line, the more RAM you have on a system, the better the system's performance. Adding RAM to any computer will increase system throughput. The addition of RAM, in many cases, will even provide more of a performance jump than switching to a faster processor.
NOTE
Another RAM type that you may see in the near future is Rambus DRAM (RDRAM). RDRAM was developed by Rambus, Inc. RDRAM is a very fast type of DRAM that can run as fast as 600MHz. RDRAM is currently used in some graphics accelerator cards. However, Intel has a licensing agreement with Rambus to use RDRAM technology on future Intel motherboards.
Hard Drives
The first hard drive available for the original IBM PC boasted a capacity of 10MB (10 million bytes). Now it is common for hard drives or fixed disks to have capacities in excess of 30GB (that's 30 billion bytes).
Hard drives come in two flavors: IDE drives and SCSI drives. An Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) drive is a hard drive (or other device such as a CD-ROM) where the controller for the drive is built into the drive itself. An IDE drive is connected to the motherboard using a ribbon cable. Each motherboard IDE connection supports up to two IDE drives. Motherboards typically have two IDE connections, meaning a maximum of four IDE drives (this includes hard drives and CD-ROM drives) could be installed on the computer.
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The newest drive standard available is Enhanced IDE (EIDE). It provides faster data rates and can support larger storage devices than the IDE standard.
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) hard drives are attached to a SCSI controller card (placed in one of the motherboard's expansion slots or built right onto the motherboard, in the case of servers). SCSI controllers allow for the attachment of more drives (up to seven); therefore, SCSI drives are pretty much the standard for server computers. Figure 3.11 shows an IDE drive (on the left) and a SCSI drive; note that the attachment pins are different (due to the fact that different ribbon cables are used to attach these drives to the motherboard or SCSI controller card, respectively).
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Figure 3.11 Hard drives can be IDE or SCSI drives.
In terms of server hardware, SCSI hard drives are preferred over IDE drives because SCSI drives boast a 12% performance boost over their IDE counterparts. Also, only two IDE drives can be connected to the motherboard via the same ribbon cable (limiting a computer to a maximum of four IDE drives connected to the motherboard). On the other hand, one SCSI controller will support up to seven drives, which makes it easier to deploy multiple-drive configurations, such as a RAID array (RAID is discussed in the section titled "Working with RAID," in Chapter 14, "Protecting Network Data").
NOTE
Network storage capacity is no longer limited to the hard drives you have on your network servers. The recent introduction of network attached storage (NAS) provides a way to add storage capacity to a network without adding an actual server computer. An NAS device is really just a box of hard drives that is directly connected to the network. NAS devices, such as the Quantum SnapServer, run their own proprietary OS and can be configured for file sharing using remote management software that can be run from a network client or server. NAS devices don't need a monitor or keyboard because you remotely configure them over the network. NAS devices provide an easy way to add hard drive storage capacity to a large network or even a peer-to-peer network without the expense of a network operating system and dedicated server hardware.
Network Server Considerations
Network servers require large storage capacity, fast processors, and ample memory. Server tower cases also are larger than client computers and provide much more space for additional hard drives and other peripherals.
Server computers often have motherboards that provide space for more than one processor. Most network operating systems are built to take advantage of multiple processors. In fact, some network operating systems (such as Windows 2000 Advanced Server) support up to 32 processors.
Servers also typically contain many more hard drives than you would find on a client machine and usually contain SCSI hard drives rather than IDE drives (which you would typically find on a client computer). This is not only to provide adequate storage space but also to build in some redundancy for storing files. We will talk about how drive redundancy can be used to help keep important data safe in Chapter 14. The SCSI controllers are also typically part of the server's motherboard rather than an add-on card.
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Servers often will contain drive bays that contain "hot-swappable" drives. This means a drive can be added or swapped while the server is running. These drive bays allow you to access the drive by sliding the drive out of the case; it's not unlike opening a drawer. This means that you can deal with drive issues without powering down the network server or opening the server case.
The hardware configuration for a server will, to a certain degree, be dictated by the network operating system running on that server. Each network operating system provides a baseline configuration for a server that will run that NOS.
For example, the recommended baseline server configuration for Microsoft Windows 2000 Server is as follows:
Processor: Intel Pentium 166MHz
RAM: 128MB (256 recommended)
Hard drive: 2GB
CD-ROM drive: 12X
Monitor: Super VGA capable of 800x600 resolution
Novell NetWare 5.1 also has similar hardware requirements as a baseline for a NetWare 5.1 server. Keep in mind that the baseline configuration is often the hardware that is needed just to run the NOS properly and doesn't necessarily take into consideration how many clients you have on your network or the type of resources that will be accessed on a particular server.
Network operating systems are also generally less forgiving when you attempt to run them on computers with odd configurations or atypical hardware. NOS software companies often provide a hardware compatibility list that allows you to view what types of server hardware have been tested with the particular operating system.
Before you actually finalize your server configurations, you need to do some research on the NOS you will be running. Novell, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, and other NOS providers typically provide white papers and other material that allow you to look at case studies and performance data related to a particular NOS and various hardware configurations.
TIP
Microsoft, Sun, and Novell all provide the hardware requirements to run their network operating systems. Check out these sites:
Network Client Considerations
Network clients don't typically need the processing power and storage capacity required by a server computer. Network clients do need, however, to be able to properly run the client operating system they have been configured with. Be sure that a client machine has at least the minimum hardware configuration to run the client operating system.
Because there are tons of different computer configurations out there (for standalone PCs, with most being quite satisfactory as a network client) and operating systems such as Windows 9x and Windows Me have been created with that fact in mind. They run on many different hardware configurations. Higher-end client software, such as Windows 2000, will be supported on fewer configurations. As is the case with network operating systems, some client operating systems will provide hardware compatibility lists you can review. These lists allow you to choose a compatible configuration for your client computers.
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To buy or to build? That is the question. Although the relatively low price of computer components may seem like a fairly seductive reason to build computers for a network, prebuilt PCs are configured with components that the computer manufacturer knows (or should know) work well together. Also, the prospect of building 100 computers for a network is an extremely daunting task, even if you've thrown a few computers together yourself. Adding RAM or hard drives to a PC is one thing; building a computer is something else entirely.