Distributed Computing

Unit 1 -Introduction
Lecture 1a

--Prof Ruchi S.
Definition of a Distributed System (1)

A distributed system is:

A collection of independent computers

that appears to its users as a single
coherent system.
1.
Syllabus
Introduction to Distributed System: Goals, Hardware concepts, Software
concepts, and Client-Server model. Examples of distributed systems.

2. Communication: Layered protocols, Remote procedures call, Remote object

invocation, Message-oriented communication, Stream-oriented communication.

3. Processes: Threads, Clients, Servers, Code Migration, Software agent.

4. Naming: Naming entities, Locating mobile entities, Removing un-referenced

entities.

5. Synchronization: Clock synchronization, Logical clocks, Global state, Election

algorithms, Mutual exclusion, Distributed transactions.
 Syllabus
6. Consistency and Replication: Introduction, Data centric consistency models, Client
centric consistency models, Distribution protocols, Consistency protocols.

7. Fault Tolerance: Introduction, Process resilience, Reliable client server

communication, Reliable group communication. Distributed commit, Recovery.

8. Security: Introduction, Secure channels, Access control, Security management.

9. Distributed File System: Sun network file system, CODA files system.

10. Case Study: CORBA, Distributed COM, Globe, Comparison of CORBA, DCOM,
and Globe.
 Books to Refer:

Text Books:
1. A. Tanenbaum, Distributed Systems: Principles and Paradigms
2. G. Coulouris, J. Dollimore, and T. Kindberg, Distributed Systems:
Concepts and Design, Pearson Education

References:
1. M. Singhal, N. Shivaratri, Advanced Concepts in Operating
Systems, TMH
2. A. Tanenbaum, Distributed Operating Systems
What is an Operating System
An operating system is:

A collection of software components that

Provides useful abstractions and

Manages resources to
Support application programs, and
Provide an interface for users and programs
Operating System Functions
An operating systems main functions are to:

Schedule processes & multiplex CPU

Provide mechanisms for IPC and synchronization
Manage main memory
Manage other resources
Provide convenient persistent storage (files)
Maintain system integrity, handle failures
Enforce security policies (e.g., access control)
Give users and processes an interface
 Definition of a Distributed System (2)

1.1

A distributed system organized as middleware.

Note that the middleware layer extends over multiple machines.
 Design Goals of Distributed System

Connecting users and resources

Transparency

Openness

Scalability
Challenges of Distributed System
Performance
Concurrency
Failures
Scalability
System updates/growth
Heterogeneity
Openness
Multiplicity of ownership, authority
Security
Quality of service/user experience
Transparency
Debugging
 Properties of Distributed Systems
Concurrency
Multiple hosts
No global clock
Theoretical impossibility
Expense of accurate clocks
Independent view
Message delay, failure
Impossible to distinguish slow vs. failed node
Independent failure
Message delivery (loss, corruption)
 Distributed System Challenge:
Eg: NASDAQ Freeze
Headline from Wall Street Journal

Apple and Facebook shares froze as Nasdaq halted all

trading
US stock exchanges halted all trading in companies listed
on the Nasdaq on Thursday after a serious technical issue
stopped it from quoting share prices accurately.
 NASDAQ Freeze-Reason
Technical issues prompted the three-hour shutdown of the Nasdaq stock
market on August 22, and in a preliminary report on the cause released
Thursday

The SIP is supposed to robust enough to handle 500,000 messages per

second, according to a January 2013 systems test, but that capacity was
degraded by the flood of quote updates from NYSE Arca, which topped out at
26,0000 per second on each of the SIPs 50 ports.
 Transparency in a Distributed System

Different forms of transparency in a distributed system.

 Software Concepts
System Description Main Goal

Tightly-coupled OS for multi-processors and Hide and manage

DOS
homogeneous multicomputers hardware resources
Loosely-coupled OS for heterogeneous Offer local services
NOS
multicomputers (LAN and WAN) to remote clients
Additional layer atop of NOS implementing Provide distribution
Middleware
general-purpose services transparency

An overview of
DOS (Distributed Operating Systems)
NOS (Network Operating Systems)
Middleware
Examples of Distributed System
The world wide web information, resource sharing
Clusters, Network of workstations
Distributed manufacturing system (e.g., automated assembly
line)
Network of branch office computers - Information system to
handle automatic processing of orders
Network of embedded systems
New Cell processor (PlayStation 3)