Distributed Systems
UNIT – I LESSON 1: DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS CONTENTS 1.0 Aim and Objectives 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Organization 1.3. Goals and Advantages 1.4. Disadvantages 1.5. Architecture 1.6. Concurrency 1.7. Languages 1.8. Let us Sum UP 1.9. Lesson-End Activities 1.10. Points for Discussion 1.11. References
1.0. AIM AND OBJECTIVES At the end of this Lesson you will be able to understand the concept of Distributed Computing, organization of Distributed Computing, advantages and limitations of Distributed Computing
1.1. INTRODUCTION Distributed computing is a method of computer processing in which different parts of a program are run simultaneously on two or more computers that are communicating with each other over a network. Distributed computing is a type of segmented or parallel computing, but the latter term is most commonly used to refer to processing in which different parts of a program run simultaneously on two or more processors that are part of the same computer. While both types of processing require that a program be segmented—divided into sections that can run simultaneously, distributed computing also requires that the division of the program take into account the different environments on which the different sections of the program will be running. For example, two computers are likely to have different file systems and different hardware components. An example of distributed computing is BOINC, a framework in which large problems can be divided into many small problems which are distributed to many computers. Later, the small results are reassembled into a larger solution.
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Distributed computing is a natural result of using networks to enable computers to communicate efficiently. But distributed computing is distinct from computer networking or fragmented computing. The latter refers to two or more computers interacting with each other, but not, typically, sharing the processing of a single program. The World Wide Web is an example of a network,
1.0. AIM AND OBJECTIVES At the end of this Lesson you will be able to understand the concept of Distributed Computing, organization of Distributed Computing, advantages and limitations of Distributed Computing
1.1. INTRODUCTION Distributed computing is a method of computer processing in which different parts of a program are run simultaneously on two or more computers that are communicating with each other over a network. Distributed computing is a type of segmented or parallel computing, but the latter term is most commonly used to refer to processing in which different parts of a program run simultaneously on two or more processors that are part of the same computer. While both types of processing require that a program be segmented—divided into sections that can run simultaneously, distributed computing also requires that the division of the program take into account the different environments on which the different sections of the program will be running. For example, two computers are likely to have different file systems and different hardware components. An example of distributed computing is BOINC, a framework in which large problems can be divided into many small problems which are distributed to many computers. Later, the small results are reassembled into a larger solution.
1
Distributed computing is a natural result of using networks to enable computers to communicate efficiently. But distributed computing is distinct from computer networking or fragmented computing. The latter refers to two or more computers interacting with each other, but not, typically, sharing the processing of a single program. The World Wide Web is an example of a network,