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πŸ’₯Introduction

Wtf is distributed systems?

A distributed system is a group of separate computers that give the impression to system users that they are part of a single, cohesive system. By sharing resources, information, and tasks, these computers, also known as nodes, collaborate, communicate, and plan their actions across a network in order to accomplish a shared objective.

Types of distributed systems

The different types of distributed systems are -

  • client-server systems: are a very conventional approach in which numerous networked computers communicate with a central server to store, process, or accomplish other shared objectives.

  • peer-to-peer networks: Workloads are divided across hundreds or thousands of computers running the same software via peer-to-peer networks.

  • cell phone networks: are a sophisticated distributed system that shares workloads amongst internet-based devices, switching systems, and handsets.

Working of distributed systems

workflow diagram
  • We can see that the Centralised Database System shares data with each Autonomous System, which in turn has a common application.

  • A centralised system must have a middleware service and be networked in order to transfer data to autonomous systems.

  • By serving as an interface between the local systems and the centralised system, middleware services make possible certain services that are not available in the local systems or by default in the centralised system. Data management and communication are accomplished through the use of Middleware Services components.

  • After being transferred via the database, the data will be separated into modules or segments and shared with autonomous systems for processing.

  • After processing, the data will be sent over the network to the centralised system and saved in the database.

Characteristics of distributed systems

The characteristics of distributed systems are -

  • resource sharing: The capacity to use any hardware, software, or data anywhere in the system is known as resource sharing.

  • openness: It looks at how the software is developed and shared with others, as well as system enhancements and extensions.

  • concurrency: is inherent to distributed systems, which handle the same task or feature that can be completed by multiple users in different places. Each local system has its own resources and operating system.

  • scalability: It expands the system's size when more processors interact with more users by making accommodations to enhance the system's responsiveness.

  • fault tolerance: is concerned with the system's dependability; in the event of a hardware or software malfunction, the system keeps working correctly without seeing a decline in performance.

  • transparency: Since every system should respect privacy, it conceals the intricacy of distributed systems from users and application applications.

  • heterogeneity: Dispersed system components may differ in terms of operating systems, programming languages, networks, computer hardware, and developer implementations.

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