Operating System-Windows 7
Windows 7 is an operating system used in personal computers. Microsoft developed and released the software in 2009 as an improvement of the initial operating system Windows Vista.
In parallel computing machines carry out calculations of instructions simultaneously. The machines divide one large task into several smaller ones and then allocate each of the tasks to the multiple machines. They work together as a unit making reducing the time a single machine would take to compute or solve the same task (Kyle).
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 is still not fully suited to support parallel processing. However, Windows 7 is able to support 256 processors. Machines with such kind of power are extremely expensive and are only used by companies rather than individuals. Widows 7 64 bit though can support dual core as well quad core processors (Windows 7). It is therefore, necessary to use parallel processing technology to take advantage of the Windows 7 ability.
First, one can use Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) to access the multiple processors in a parallel machine. In this system, a single processor is able to access its local memory as well as the memory of other processors faster and efficiently. Windows 7 has special Windows Software Developer toolkits that allow the system to operate in this manner. In order to achieve this, a user should create tasks. The processors divide these tasks increasing the overall speed of the computer.
Windows 7 operating system encompasses a disk management utility tool. This tool allows a user to create, resize and delete any partitions on the hard disk (Jo Foley). This process is usually possible without having to boot the computer into a special disk utility. It also does not require any additional software. To manage a disk in Windows 7, a user should locate the Disk Management Utility tool. The tool is located in the Computer Management section. Once a user gains access to this tool, he can then either increase, reduce or create new partitions as desired. It is impossible to adjust any partition created using a different operating system. It is always important to back up all the data before carrying out a disk management procedure. Any data that is not saved gets lost if one deletes a partition.
Managing tapes in Windows 7 requires Removable Storage Management (RSM). Initially, any application that utilized tapes required a special tape management systems. It is very difficult to share tape libraries between applications (Lascon Storage). RSM enables users to manage tapes. RSM needs the NTFS version 5 which Windows 7 operating system supports. RSM takes control of all media altering robots. Any applications that are incompatible with RSM cease working when a user installs this application. A user should ensure that all application are matched with RSM specifications.
RSM utilizes “Media Pools when classifying data. There is an application and a system media pool. Each media pool has a specific type of media that share management properties (Lascon Storage). All the removable storage devices should be part of a particular media pool. Since media pools can share between applications, libraries as well as other media pools, one can create a hierarchy of pools with each level managing and describing a given removable media. Managing RSM is fairly easy. A user utilizes Graphic User Interface GUI to manage any removable storage.
Works Cited
Jo Foley, Mary. Windows 7 to get Parallel- Processing Tweaks. zdNet. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-7-to-get-parallel-processing-tweaks/
Lascon Storage. Windows Removable Storage Services. Retrived From. http://www.lascon.co.uk/Windows-Removable-Storage-System.php
Kyle, Bruce. How to Get Started with Multi-Core: Parallel Processing You Can Use. ISV Developer Community. Retrieved from http://blogs.msdn.com/b/usisvde/archive/2009/10/24/how-to-get-started-with-multi-core-parallel-processing-you-can-use.aspx
Windows 7. Using Parallel Programming in Windows 7: Writing an Application that Relies on Parallel Processing. Retrieved from http://tutorial.programming4.us/windows_7/using-parallel-programming-in-windows-7---writing-an-application-that-relies-on-parallel-processing.aspx
