Distributed operating system

A distributed operating system is a software over a collection of independent, networked, communicating, and physically separate computational nodes.[1] Individual nodes each hold a specific software subset of the global aggregate operating system. Each subset is a composite of two distinct service provisioners.[2] The first is a ubiquitous minimal kernel, or microkernel, that directly controls that nodes hardware. Second is a higher-level collection of system management components that coordinate the node's individual and collaborative activities. These components abstract microkernel functions and support user applications.[3] The microkernel and the management components collection work together. They support the systems goal of integrating multiple resources and processing functionality into an efficient and stable system. This seamless integration of individual nodes into a global system is referred to as transparency, or single system image; describing the illusion provided to users of the global systems appearance as a single computational entity. A distributed operating system is one designed to work over a network of computers so different parts of the OS would be stored on different machines Difference between ds os and centralization os The difference between centralization system and distributed system is that the Centralized system would be a network in one specific position while the scattered system would be a network that is spread out over more than one position. In operating system, centralized system is the one that handle all the software in the computer so that it will work, in data reliability, centralized system is the will communicate to other computer though router, in system memory centralized system is the one will store the data for the moment and in homogeneity, centralized system is the one that store the data permanently. Q. What are differences in Centralized and Distributed Database Systems? List the relative advantages of data distribution? A distributed database is a database that is under the control of a central database management system (DBMS) in which storage devices are not all attached to a common CPU. It may be stored in multiple computers located in the same physical location, or may be dispersed over a network of interconnected computers. Collections of data (e.g. in a database) can be distributed across multiple physical locations. A distributed database can reside on network servers on the Internet, on corporate intranets or extranets, or on other company networks. The replication and distribution of databases improves database performance at end-user worksites. To ensure that the distributive databases are up to date and current, there are two processes: replication and duplication. Replication involves using specialized software that looks for changes in the distributive database. Once the changes have been identified, the replication process makes all the databases look the same. The replication process can be very complex and time consuming depending on the size and number of the distributive databases. This process can also require a lot of time and computer resources. Duplication on the other hand is not as complicated. It basically identifies one database as a master and then duplicates that

database. The duplication process is normally done at a set time after hours. This is to ensure that each distributed location has the same data. In the duplication process, changes to the master database only are allowed. This is to ensure that local data will not be overwritten. Both of the processes can keep the data current in all distributive locations. Besides distributed database replication and fragmentation, there are many other distributed database design technologies. For example, local autonomy, synchronous and asynchronous distributed database technologies. These technologies' implementation can and does depend on the needs of the business and the sensitivity/confidentiality of the data to be stored in the database, and hence the price the business is willing to spend on ensuring data security, consistency and integrity. Basic architecture A database User accesses the distributed database through: Local applications; Applications which do not require data from other sites. Global applications: Applications which do require data from other sites. A distributed database does not share main memory or disks. A centralized database has all its data on one place. As it is totally different from distributed database which has data on different places. In centralized database as all the data reside on one place so problem of bottle-neck can occur, and data availability is not efficient as in distributed database. Let me define some advantages of distributed database, it will clear the difference between centralized and distributed database. Advantages of Data Distribution The primary advantage of distributed database systems is the ability to share and access data in a reliable and efficient manner. Data sharing and Distributed Control: If a number of different sites are connected to each other, then a user at one site may be able to access data that is available at another site. For example, in the distributed banking system, it is possible for a user in one branch to access data in another branch. Without this capability, a user wishing to transfer funds from one branch to another would have to resort to some external mechanism for such a transfer. This external mechanism would, in effect, be a single centralized database. The primary advantage to accomplishing data sharing by means of data distribution is that each site is able to retain a degree of control over data stored locally. In a centralized system, the database administrator of the central site controls the database. In a distributed system, there is a global database administrator responsible for the entire system. A part of these

responsibilities is delegated to the local database administrator for each site. Depending upon the design of the distributed database system, each local administrator may have a different degree of autonomy which is often a major advantage of distributed databases Reliability and Availability: If one site fails in distributed system, the remaining sited may be able to continue operating. In particular, if data are replicated in several sites, transaction needing a particular data item may find it in several sites. Thus, the failure of a site does not necessarily imply the shutdown of the system. The failure of one site must be detected by the system, and appropriate action may be needed to recover from the failure. The system must no longer use the service of the failed site. Finally, when the failed site recovers or is repaired, mechanisms must be available to integrate it smoothly back into the system. Although recovery from failure is more complex in distributed systems than in a centralized system, the ability of most of the systems to continue to operate despite failure of one site, results in increased availability. Availability is crucial for database systems used for real-time applications. Loss of access to data, for example, in an airline may result in the loss of potential ticket buyers to competitors. Speedup Query Processing: If a query involves data at several sites, it may be possible to split the query into subqueries that can be executed in parallel by several sites. Such parallel computation allows for faster processing of a users query. In those cases in which data is replicated, queries may be directed by the system to the least heavily loaded sites.
A network operating system (NOS) is a computer operating system system that is designed primarily to support workstation, personal computer, and, in some instances, older terminal that are connected on a local area network (LAN). Artisoft's LANtastic, Banyan VINES, Novell's NetWare, and Microsoft's LAN Manager are examples of network operating systems. In addition, some multipurpose operating systems, such as Windows NT and Digital's OpenVMS come with capabilities that enable them to be described as a network operating system. A network operating system provides printer sharing, common file system and database sharing, application sharing, and the ability to manage a network name directory, security, and other housekeeping aspects of a network