DefinitionA distributed system, also known as distributed computing, is a system with multiple components located on different machines that communicate and coordinate actions in order to appear as a single coherent system to the end-user. Show
OverviewThe machines that are a part of a distributed system may be computers, physical servers, virtual machines, containers, or any other node that can connect to the network, have local memory, and communicate by passing messages. There are two general ways that distributed systems function:
Although distributed systems can sometimes be obscure, they usually have three primary characteristics: all components run concurrently, there is no global clock, and all components fail independently of each other. Benefits and challenges of distributed systemsThere are three reasons that teams generally decide to implement distributed systems:
However, distributed systems are not without challenges. Complex architectural design, construction, and debugging processes that are required to create an effective distributed system can be overwhelming. Three more challenges you may encounter include:
How a Distributed System WorksHardware and software architectures are used to maintain a distributed system. Everything must be interconnected—CPUs via the network and processes via the communication system. Types of distributed systemsDistributed systems generally fall into one of four different basic architecture models:
Example of a Distributed SystemDistributed systems have endless use cases, a few being electronic banking systems, massive multiplayer online games, and sensor networks. StackPath utilizes a particularly large distributed system to power its content delivery network service. Every one of our points of presence (PoPs) has nodes that form a worldwide distributed system. And to provide top notch content delivery, StackPath stores the most recently and frequently requested content in edge locations closest to the location it is being used. Distributed systems at the edgeWith StackPath’s edge-compute services, virtual machines, and containers, users can create their own distributed systems. By interconnecting VMs and containers, while also leveraging the speed and agility that comes with edge computing, your system can handle thousands of simultaneous requests at lightning-fast speed. Key Takeaways
What is used to communicate between a user and an organization's back end systems?Application server software han- dles all application operations between a user and an organization's back-end business systems. The application server may reside on the same computer as the Web server or on its own dedicated computer.
Which term refers to a set of selfA service-oriented architecture (SOA) is set of self-contained services that communicate with each other to create a working software application. Business tasks are accomplished by executing a series of these services.
Which term refers to a set of selfMicroservices are an architectural and organizational approach to software development where software is composed of small independent services that communicate over well-defined APIs. These services are owned by small, self-contained teams.
Which type of infrastructure services provides voice and video connectivity to employees customers and suppliers?Telecommunications services: Data, voice, and video connectivity between employees, customers, and suppliers.
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