Introduction to Distributed Systems

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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of a client-server architecture?

All nodes provide the same services.

It allows peer-to-peer communication.

Each node acts as both client and server.

Central control is maintained with distinct roles. (correct)

Which of the following components is NOT part of the fundamental model for understanding distributed systems?

Authentication model (correct)

Interaction model

Security model

Failure model

What is one benefit of distributed computing?

Limited resource sharing

Increased hardware costs

Enhanced data processing capability (correct)

Reduced system availability

In a peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture, what is the primary function of each node?

To provide a specific service only to other nodes. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge is associated with achieving consistency in distributed systems?

Synchronization of all nodes Signup and view all the answers

Which failure model specifies the potential issues like crashes and omissions?

Failure model Signup and view all the answers

What is a unique challenge that distributed systems face despite their benefits?

Consistency and fault tolerance Signup and view all the answers

Which model describes how processes in a distributed system communicate with each other?

Interaction model Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of geographically distributed systems concerning end-users?

It enables quicker data access and processing. Signup and view all the answers

What role does load balancing play in distributed systems?

It ensures that no single component is overloaded. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key component of a distributed system's physical model?

Cloud Storage Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of middleware in a distributed system?

To facilitate communication between software nodes. Signup and view all the answers

How does a distributed system enhance performance during periods of high demand?

By distributing workloads evenly among nodes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using strategically located components in a distributed system?

It reduces latency for end-users. Signup and view all the answers

Which communication protocols are commonly used in the topology of distributed systems?

TCP, UDP, and HTTP Signup and view all the answers

What could be a potential challenge in a distributed system's architecture?

Complexity in managing distributed resources. Signup and view all the answers

What does the CAP Theorem state about a distributed system?

It can guarantee only two out of the three properties. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by eventual consistency in distributed systems?

Temporary inconsistencies are permissible, with eventual convergence. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of fault tolerance in a distributed system?

To continue operation despite component failures. Signup and view all the answers

Which two consensus algorithms are mentioned for managing synchronization in distributed systems?

Paxos and Raft Signup and view all the answers

Why is strict consistency difficult to maintain in distributed systems?

It is impacted by the CAP Theorem's limitations. Signup and view all the answers

What role does redundancy play in a distributed system?

It allows data to be spread across multiple nodes for reliability. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge addressed by consensus algorithms in distributed systems?

To ensure nodes agree on a shared state despite failures. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between availability and consistency in the context of distributed systems?

Improving availability often requires sacrificing strict consistency. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary advantage of distributed systems over centralized systems?

Improved adaptability to workloads Signup and view all the answers

How do distributed systems ensure continuity in the face of component failures?

Through redundancy and replication strategies Signup and view all the answers

What is one way distributed systems can adapt to increasing user demands?

By adding more servers or processing power Signup and view all the answers

Why are distributed systems well-suited for a wide range of applications?

They can be scaled and adapted as needed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation often associated with distributed systems?

They typically require more complex management. Signup and view all the answers

What role does redundancy play in distributed systems?

It helps maintain system functionality during failures. Signup and view all the answers

How do distributed computing systems generally handle workload increases?

By adding more computational nodes. Signup and view all the answers

What impact do failures in a distributed system typically have compared to a centralized system?

Failures can often be isolated without significant disruption. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Distributed Systems Introduction

Distributed systems are collections of computer programs utilizing computational resources across multiple, separate nodes to achieve a shared goal.

Importance of Distributed Systems

Distributed systems offer advantages over centralized systems.
They are well-suited for various applications and use cases.
Advantages include adaptability to increased workloads and user demands, ensuring system continuity in the face of failures, boosting performance and utilization through collaboration, enhancing user experience with geographically distributed systems, and maintaining system performance during high-demand periods.

Adaptability to Increased Workloads

Distributed systems handle growing workloads and user demands by adding more resources (servers, processing power).

System Continuity

If a component or node fails in a distributed system, other parts can continue operating without significant disruption.
Redundancy and replication strategies minimize the impact of system failures on performance and availability.

Performance and Utilization Through Collaboration

Distributed systems facilitate the efficient sharing of resources like processing power, storage, and network bandwidth.

Enhancing User Experience

Geographic distribution of components places parts closer to end-users, decreasing data travel time.

Maintaining System Performance During High Demand

Load balancing distributes workloads evenly amongst multiple components and nodes.
This distributed architecture ensures no single component becomes overloaded with requests, maintaining performance.

Distributed Computing Models

Physical Model:
- Represents hardware components and device interconnections.
- Key components include nodes (processing devices), links (communication channels), middleware (decentralized control), topology (node arrangement—bus, star, mesh, etc.), and protocols (communication rules—TCP, UDP, HTTPS).
Architectural Model:
- Describes the design, structure, and organization of a distributed system.
- Key components include client-server (centralized system with client requests and server responses), peer-to-peer (decentralized system where all nodes can request/provide services), and layered (organized into layers, each providing a specific service).
Fundamental Model:
- Provides a conceptual framework for understanding distributed system behavior.
- Key components include interaction model (communication methods such as message passing, publish/subscribe, remote procedure calls), failure model (describing system failures—crash, omission, timing, Byzantine), and security model (protecting against malicious attacks and unauthorized access).

Benefits of Distributed Computing

Improved performance
Enhanced data processing
Greater reliability and fault tolerance

Challenges in Distributed Systems

Consistency and Fault Tolerance:
- Managing communication, data consistency, and handling failures become increasingly complex as the system scales.
- Maintaining strict consistency across a distributed network is challenging, especially when considering the CAP theorem (consistency, availability, and partition tolerance).

Consistency

Consistency ensures that all nodes in a distributed system reflect the same data at any given time. Maintaining strict consistency across the network is challenging, especially concerning the CAP theorem.

The CAP Theorem

A distributed system can only guarantee two out of three properties: consistency, availability, and partition tolerance. Trade-offs often occur, particularly when network issues arise. Strategies like eventual consistency address these trade-offs.

Eventual Consistency

Temporary inconsistencies are allowed. All nodes will converge to a consistent state. This approach prioritizes availability and performance while acknowledging maintaining immediate consistency is complex and not always mandatory.

Fault Tolerance

Fault tolerance is a system's ability to continue operating even when some components fail. Redundancy and replication involve storing multiple copies of data across nodes to ensure data remains accessible even if one node fails, preserving system reliability.

Consensus Algorithms

Consensus algorithms (like Paxos and Raft) help nodes agree on a shared state. These ensure the system functions correctly despite failures or inconsistencies. Together with redundancy, these mechanisms enhance the system's resilience and dependability.

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamentals of distributed systems, including their advantages over centralized systems and their ability to manage increased workloads. Explore how they ensure system continuity and enhance performance in various applications. Test your understanding of the characteristics and benefits of distributed computing.