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Computer system

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A computer system is the combination of hardware and software. A typical computer system has memory, one or more processors, and a set of states that define the relationship between the system's inputs and outputs. A computer system could be varied in definition into either a chip (the microcontroller) or a whole system of chips, system board, and peripherals, into models such as the tower, desktop, or laptop.

The simplest computer classifies as a computer system because at least two components (hardware and software) work together coherently, and these can connect into larger applications. In industry, the interconnection of variable-speed drives and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to automate production lines and control motors is a common example of a computer system.

Computer systems can connect to each other as well through the use of networking through the use of various means such as a protocol, a server, and physical means. This way they can also become a much larger system sharing resources such as processor power, memory, or files. These are individualized computer systems working together, but for a set of computers running as one computer system, all computers must be dependent to one another through the use of an operating system. This is somewhat analogous to RAID models to hard drives where a little bit of data goes into each hard drive to prevent data loss and also gives more security.