Distributed Systems

Ø In this type of processing different CPU are connected to the network and are controlled by single CPU.

Ø For example, in air reservation system there exists different terminals and processing is done from many locations and all the computers are controlled by the single main processor.

Ø This type of network is called distributed network.

Ø A distributed system contains multiple nodes that are physically separate but linked together using the network. All the nodes in this system communicate with each other.

Ø Each of these nodes contains a small part of the distributed operating system software.

Ø A diagram to better explain the distributed system is:

Ø Types of Distributed Systems

1) Client/Server System

2) Peer-to-Peer System

Ø Advantages of Distributed Systems

1) All the nodes in the distributed system are connected to each other. So, nodes can easily share data with other nodes.

2) More nodes can easily be added to the distributed system i.e. it can be scaled as required.

3) Failure of one node does not lead to the failure of the entire distributed system. Other nodes can still communicate with each other.

4) Resources like printers can be shared with multiple nodes rather than being restricted to just one.

Ø Disadvantages of Distributed Systems

1) It is difficult to provide adequate security in distributed systems because the nodes as well as the connections need to be secured.

2) Some messages and data can be lost in the network while moving from one node to another.

3) The database connected to the distributed systems is quite complicated and difficult to handle as compared to a single user system.

4) Overloading may occur in the network if all the nodes of the distributed system try to send data at once.