1.7 - Installing Applications

Question 1

Installing applications

Answer 1

• Extend the functionality of your operating system
  – Specialized applications
• Available everywhere
  – Find the application you need
  – Install on your operating system
• Not every computer can run every application
  – Some simple checks can help manage your desktop

Question 2

Operating system platform

Answer 2

• 32-bit vs. 64-bit
  – Processor specific
• 32-bit processors can store
  232 = 4,294,967,296 values
• 64-bit processors can store
  264 = 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 values
  – 4 GB vs. 17 billion GB
  – The OS has a maximum supported value
• Hardware drivers are specific to the OS version
  – 32-bit (x86), 64-bit (x64)
• 32-bit OS cannot run 64-bit apps
  – But 64-bit OS can run 32-bit apps
• Apps in a 64-bit Windows OS
  – 32-bit apps: \Program Files (x86)
  – 64-bit apps: \Program Files

Question 3

Graphics requirements

Answer 3

• Integrated graphics
  – CPU and GPU are the same chip
  – Uses system memory for graphics
  – Common in laptops
• Dedicated graphics card
  – Also called a discrete graphics card
  – Uses its own VRAM (Video RAM)
  – High-end graphics requirements
• Check the application
  – Integrated or dedicated
  – VRAM requirements

Question 4

RAM requirements

Answer 4

• Random Access Memory
  – Memory modules
• A critical specification
  – Application may perform poorly
  – Or not at all
• This would be above and beyond the OS requirements
  – Dependent on the application
  – Consider all of the other running applications

Question 5

CPU requirements

Answer 5

• Central Processing Unit
  – Processing speed
  – Usually measured in gigahertz (GHz)
• A broad measurement
  – Higher numbers are faster CPUs
• Application requirements vary
  – Word processing vs. video editing

Question 6

External hardware tokens

Answer 6

• Manage application usage
  – Limit access to authorized users
• Application will only operate with the
  hardware token connected
  – Commonly a USB device
  – Can be a challenge to manage
• Often used with high-end software
  – High per-seat licensing costs

Question 7

Storage requirements

Answer 7

• Drive space concerns
  – Initial installation space requirement
  – Application use requirement
• Some applications use a LOT of storage space
  after installation
  – The initial install requirements may not be the most
  important specification

Question 8

Distribution methods

Answer 8

• Downloadable
  – Direct from the manufacturer
  – Centralized app store
  – Avoid 3rd-party downloads
• Physical media
  – Optical media, USB drive, etc.
  – Increasingly rare

Question 9

ISO files

Answer 9

• Optical disk image
  – A single ISO file / ISO image
  – Files and folders
• Sector by sector copy of the data on an optical disc
  – ISO 9660 file system
  – International Organization for Standardization
• Mount in the OS
  – Appears as a separate drive

Question 10

Installation considerations

Answer 10

• There’s a reason we are careful when
  installing applications
  – Applications have the same rights and permissions
  as the user
  – An unknown application can cause significant issues
• Impact to device
  – Application upgrade stops working
  – Slowdowns
  – Deleted files
• Impact to network
  – Access to internal services
  – Rights and permissions to file shares
• Impact to operation
  – Many jobs are time-sensitive
  – An updated application may require a change
  to the workflow
  – Or may not work at all
• Impact to the business
  – Critical processes are sensitive to downtime
  and outages
  – A change to an application can create significant issues
  – Other parts of the business rely on your results