Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a primary challenge when dealing with multiple administrators in a network?
What is a primary challenge when dealing with multiple administrators in a network?
- Reducing overall financial transport costs.
- Coordinating network upgrades and deployments. (correct)
- Implementing proprietary protocols.
- Quickly identifying upgrade requirements.
What impact does XML have compared to JSON when transferring data?
What impact does XML have compared to JSON when transferring data?
- XML requires more computer resources and time than JSON. (correct)
- XML transfers data faster due to its simplicity.
- XML is more compatible with various protocols.
- XML uses less bandwidth than JSON.
What should be assumed when planning a distributed application?
What should be assumed when planning a distributed application?
- The network will be cost-effective and secure.
- Network reliability may be taken for granted.
- Network conditions can be unpredictable and costly. (correct)
- The network will always provide high bandwidth.
Which of these formats is preferable for transferring data in a distributed system?
Which of these formats is preferable for transferring data in a distributed system?
What is one of the costs associated with maintaining a network?
What is one of the costs associated with maintaining a network?
What is often neglected when designing distributed systems?
What is often neglected when designing distributed systems?
Why may a cloud service outage be particularly concerning?
Why may a cloud service outage be particularly concerning?
What misconception exists about homogeneous networks?
What misconception exists about homogeneous networks?
What can complicate the coordination of upgrades in a network?
What can complicate the coordination of upgrades in a network?
What factor contributes to higher financial transport costs in a network?
What factor contributes to higher financial transport costs in a network?
What assumption about networks is considered a fallacy in distributed computing?
What assumption about networks is considered a fallacy in distributed computing?
What is one of the reasons why network administration can become error-prone?
What is one of the reasons why network administration can become error-prone?
What percentage of network changes can lead to errors affecting reliability?
What percentage of network changes can lead to errors affecting reliability?
What is often a misconception held by application designers regarding networks?
What is often a misconception held by application designers regarding networks?
What aspect of the production environment is often overlooked by designers of distributed systems?
What aspect of the production environment is often overlooked by designers of distributed systems?
Which type of network configuration might work well for distributed systems?
Which type of network configuration might work well for distributed systems?
What common issue do networks face, especially as they grow in complexity?
What common issue do networks face, especially as they grow in complexity?
What is a significant factor contributing to network failures besides hardware issues?
What is a significant factor contributing to network failures besides hardware issues?
What is the primary cause of latency in network communications?
What is the primary cause of latency in network communications?
Which factor does NOT contribute to propagation delay in a network?
Which factor does NOT contribute to propagation delay in a network?
What is a common misconception about bandwidth in modern networks?
What is a common misconception about bandwidth in modern networks?
What strategy is essential for ensuring network security?
What strategy is essential for ensuring network security?
Which of the following is a reason for high latency in mobile applications?
Which of the following is a reason for high latency in mobile applications?
Which statement reflects the nature of network topology?
Which statement reflects the nature of network topology?
What contributes to node delay in a network?
What contributes to node delay in a network?
Which is a potential source of network security breaches?
Which is a potential source of network security breaches?
Which is NOT a characteristic of high latency in a network?
Which is NOT a characteristic of high latency in a network?
What is a major challenge in maintaining network security as related to a cloud environment?
What is a major challenge in maintaining network security as related to a cloud environment?
Which is a common issue with reliance on cloud service providers?
Which is a common issue with reliance on cloud service providers?
How can frequent fine-grained network calls mislead developers?
How can frequent fine-grained network calls mislead developers?
Which statement about uninterruptible power supplies is true?
Which statement about uninterruptible power supplies is true?
Which issue is commonly faced by network applications in relation to data integrity?
Which issue is commonly faced by network applications in relation to data integrity?
Study Notes
Eight Fallacies of Distributed Computing
- Identified at Sun Microsystems in the 1990s, these fallacies highlight misconceptions around distributed systems still relevant today.
- Senior management's adherence to these fallacies often led to costly project failures.
Fallacy Overview
- Network Reliability: Networks are prone to failure from various sources including hardware/software malfunctions, misconfigurations, and external attacks. Redundancies exist, but complexity can lead to errors.
- Latency is Zero: Latency varies based on propagation, node, and congestion delays, often underestimated in development, leading to poor performance in live systems.
- Infinite Bandwidth: While new cables can offer high bandwidth, network devices often create bottlenecks. Actual bandwidth can be limited by usage and physical infrastructure.
- Network Security: Security flaws persist in networks, with increasing attacks requiring robust, multi-layered defenses. Weak configurations can lead to breaches and ongoing vulnerabilities.
- Static Topology: Network topologies are dynamic and constantly changing, making assumptions about stable endpoints or routes risky.
- Single Administrator: Distributed systems will involve multiple administrators with varying expertise and priorities, complicating management and coordination during issues.
- Zero Transport Cost: Data transport incurs both time and cost associated with resources, serialization, and the ongoing maintenance of network infrastructure.
- Homogeneous Network: Modern networks are diverse, mixing different devices and protocols. Interoperability should be a foundational design consideration to accommodate this variety.
Conclusion
- Distributed systems can be effective only when assumptions about network reliability, latency, bandwidth, security, topology, administration, transport costs, and homogeneity are critically evaluated.
- Acknowledging these fallacies helps in planning and designing more robust distributed applications, avoiding reliance on misleading attributes of the network.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the eight fallacies of distributed computing, originating from Sun Microsystems in the 1990s. These common misconceptions have persisted over time and continue to affect IT projects negatively. Understand these fallacies to avoid costly mistakes in your application designs.
