Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Utility Programs
Utility programs
help to perform maintenance or correct problems with a computer system.
For example, some utility programs merge and sort sets of data, keep track of computer jobs
being run, compress files of data before they are stored or transmitted over a network (thus
saving space and time), and perform other important tasks. Some utility programs can help
computer systems run better and longer without problems.
Another type of utility program allows people and organizations to take advantage of
unused computer power over a network. Often called
grid computing
, the approach can be
very efficient and less expensive than purchasing additional hardware or computer equip-
ment. Financial services firm Wachovia Corporation uses grid computing to combine the
power of 10,000 CPUs located on computers around the world for processing transactions.
10
In the future, grid computing could become a common feature of OSs and provide inex-
pensive, on-demand access to computer power and resources.
Utility programs can also help to secure and safeguard data. For example, the recording
and motion picture industry uses digital rights management (DRM) technologies to prevent
copyright-protected movies and music from being unlawfully copied. Music and media files
are encoded so that software running on players recognizes and plays only legally obtained
copies. DRM has been criticized for infringing on the freedom and rights of customers.
Record companies are experimenting with DRM-free music to see if it increases sales.
Although many PC utility programs come installed on computers (see Figure 4.10), you
can also purchase utility programs separately. The following sections examine some common
types of utilities.
utility programs
Programs that help to perform
maintenance or correct problems
with a computer system.
Figure 4.10
Mac Disk Utility
The Apple Mac Disk Utility is
packaged with OS X and provides
tools for repairing disks, backing up
disks, creating disk images, and
burning CDs and DVDs.
Hardware Utilities
Some hardware utilities are available from companies such as Symantec, which produces
Norton Utilities. Hardware utilities can check the status of all parts of the PC, including
hard disks, memory, modems, speakers, and printers. Disk utilities check the hard disk's boot
sector, file allocation tables, and directories, and analyze them to ensure that the hard disk is
not damaged. Disk utilities can also optimize the placement of files on a crowded disk.
