Distributed Systems Overview

This set of flashcards covers key concepts about distributed systems, including definitions, design goals, misconceptions, and scalability challenges.

What is the main difference between decentralized and distributed systems?

A decentralized system has resources spread across multiple computers, while a distributed system has resources sufficiently spread across multiple computers.

What is a common misconception about centralized solutions?

Centralized solutions are often seen as having a single point of failure, which is generally not true.

What does distribution transparency mean?

It refers to hiding the physical distribution of processes and resources across multiple computers.

What are the types of distribution transparency?

Types include access, location, relocation, migration, replication, concurrency, and failure.

What are the fundamental goals of distributed systems design?

Key goals include resource sharing, distribution transparency, openness, and scalability.

What impact does aiming for full distribution transparency have?

It can lead to performance costs and may not adequately hide communication latencies.

What factors contribute to scalability in distributed systems?

Factors include the number of users, maximum distance between nodes, and the number of administrative domains.

What does a TP Monitor do in transaction processing?

A TP Monitor coordinates the execution of a transaction across distributed servers.

What distinguishes ubiquitous computing systems?

These systems are pervasive, continuously present, and interact seamlessly with users.

What is one common pitfall in developing distributed systems?

Assuming that the network is reliable and secure can lead to unnecessary complexity.