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Hardware & Networking Essentials

Compare two server options, practise hardware vocabulary and the passive voice.

B1–B2 · IT English
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Ex A – Server ComparisonReading comprehension
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Ex B – Hardware VocabularyGap-fill with word bank
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Ex C – Passive VoiceGrammar: present simple passive
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AReading: Choosing a Server for the Branch Office
Read the internal recommendation, then choose the correct answer for each question.

Below is a summary of the two server options for the new branch office.

Option A is a tower server with a 12-core CPU, 64 GB of RAM and two 2 TB SSDs configured as RAID 1. Because the drives are mirrored, the system keeps running even if one disk fails. Option B is a rack server with the same CPU but 128 GB of RAM, which is better if we plan to run several virtual machines.

For the network, all workstations are connected to a central switch, and the switch is connected to the router, which manages traffic between our LAN and the internet. A hardware firewall is installed between the router and the internet connection to filter incoming traffic. The current bandwidth (250 Mbit/s) is sufficient, but the contract can be upgraded. My recommendation is Option B: virtualisation will save us money in the long term. — T. Krüger

1. In a RAID 1 configuration, the data .
2. Option B is better for virtualisation because it has .
3. The workstations are connected to .
4. Traffic between the LAN and the internet is managed by .
5. The firewall's job is to .
6. T. Krüger recommends .
BVocabulary: Hardware and Network Terms
Complete each sentence with the correct term. Two words in the bank are not needed.
Word Bank CPU RAM SSD router switch LAN bandwidth firewall mentor sprint
1. The is the 'brain' of the computer that executes instructions.
2. Data in is lost when the computer is switched off.
3. An has no moving parts and is much faster than a traditional hard drive.
4. The forwards data packets between different networks.
5. Inside the office, all devices are connected through a .
6. All the computers in our building belong to the same .
7. Video conferences use a lot of , so the connection feels slow.
CGrammar: Describing Systems with the Passive
Choose the correct passive form to describe what each component or system does.
1. Data between the two drives automatically.
2. The servers in a locked room.
3. Incoming traffic by the firewall.
4. Backups every night at 2 a.m.
5. The network by two administrators.
6. New hardware before it is installed.
7. IP addresses automatically by the DHCP server.
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