CS4513 Distributed Computer Systems

CS4513
Distributed Computer
Systems
Introduction
Outline
• Overview
• Goals
• Software
• Client Server
The Rise of Distributed Systems
• Computer hardware prices falling, power increasing

– If cars the same, Rolls Royce would cost 1 dollar and
get 1 billion miles per gallon (with 200 page manual to
open the door)
• Network connectivity increasing
– Everyone is connected with fat pipes
• It is easy to connect hardware together
• Definition: a distributed system is
– A collection of independent computers that appears
to its users as a single coherent system.
Definition of a Distributed System
Examples:
-The Web
-Processor Pool
-Airline
Reservation
A distributed system organized as middleware.

Note that the middleware layer extends over multiple machines.
Users can interact with the system in a consistent way, regardless
of where the interaction takes place.
Note: Middleware may be “part” of application in practice.
Transparency in a Distributed System
Transparency Description
Hide differences in data representation and how a resource is

Access
accessed
Location Hide where a resource is located
Migration Hide that a resource may move to another location
Hide that a resource may be moved to another location while

Relocation
in use
Hide that a resource may be shared by several competitive

Replication
users
Hide that a resource may be shared by several competitive

Concurrency
users
Failure Hide the failure and recovery of a resource
Persistence Hide whether a (software) resource is in memory or on disk
Different forms of transparency in a distributed system.

Scalability Problems
• As distributed systems grow, centralized solutions
are limited
– Consider LAN name resolution vs. WAN
Concept Example
Centralized services A single server for all users
Centralized data A single on-line telephone book

Doing routing based on complete
Centralized algorithms
information
• Sometimes, hard to avoid (consider a bank)

• Need to collect information in distributed fashion
and distributed in a distributed fashion
• Challenges:
– geography, ownership domains, time synchronization
Scaling Techniques: Hiding
Communication Latency
• Especially important for interactive applications
• If possible, do asynchronous communication
- Not always possible when client has nothing to do
• Instead, can hide latencies

Scaling Techniques: Distribution
1.5
Example: DNS name space into zones

(nl.vu.cs.fluit – z1 gives address of vu gives
address of cs)
Scaling Techniques: Replication
• Copy of information to increase availability
and decrease centralized load
– Example: P2P networks (Gnutella +)
distribute copies uniformly or in proportion
to use
– Example: CDNs (akamai)
– Example: Caching is a replication decision
made by client
• Issue: Consistency of replicated
information
– Example: Web Browser cache
Outline
• Overview (done)
• Goals (done)
• Software 
• Client Server
Software Concepts
System Description Main Goal
Tightly-coupled operating system for multi- Hide and manage

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

• NOS (Network Operating Systems)
• Middleware
Uniprocessor Operating Systems
• Separating applications from operating

system code through a microkernel
– Can extend to multiple computers
Distributed Operating Systems
• But no longer have shared memory

– Provide message passing
– Can try to provide distributed shared memory
• But tough to get acceptable performance
Network Operating System
• OSes can be different (Windows or Linux)

• Typical services: rlogin, rcp
– Fairly primitive way to share files
• Can have one computer provide files transparently for others

(NFS)
– (try a “df” on the WPI hosts to see. Similar to a “mount network
drive” in Windows)
• Different clients may mount the servers in different places

• Inconsistencies in view make NOSes harder, in general for
users than DOSes.
– But easier to scale by adding computers
Positioning Middleware
• Network OS not transparent. Distributed OS not
independent of computers.
– Middleware can help
• Much middleware built in-house to help use networked

operating systems (distributed transactions, better comm,
RPC)
• Unfortunately, many different standards
Outline
• Overview (done)
• Goals (done)
• Software (done)
• Client Server 
Clients and Servers
• Thus far, have not talked about organization of
processes
– Again, many choices but most agree upon is client-server
• If can do so without connection, quite simple

• If underlying connection is unreliable, not trivial
• Resend. What if receive twice?
• Use TCP for reliable connection (most Inet apps)
• Not always appropriate for high-speed LAN connection or
interactive applications
Client-Server Implementation Levels
• Example of an Internet search engine

– UI on client
– Processing can be on client or server
– Data level is server, keeps consistency
Multitiered Architectures
• Thin client (a) to Fat client (e)

– (d) and (e) popular for NOS environments
Multitiered Architectures: 3 tiers
• Server may act as a client

– Example would be transaction monitor across multiple databases
Modern Architectures: Horizontal
• Rather than vertical, distribute servers across nodes

– Example of Web server “farm” for load balancing
– Clients, too (peer-to-peer systems)

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CS4513

• Computer hardware prices falling, power increasing

A distributed system organized as middleware.

Hide differences in data representation and how a resource is

Location Hide where a resource is located

Migration Hide that a resource may move to another location

Hide that a resource may be moved to another location while

Hide that a resource may be shared by several competitive

Hide that a resource may be shared by several competitive

Failure Hide the failure and recovery of a resource

Persistence Hide whether a (software) resource is in memory or on disk

Different forms of transparency in a distributed system.

Centralized data A single on-line telephone book

• Sometimes, hard to avoid (consider a bank)

• Instead, can hide latencies

Example: DNS name space into zones

Tightly-coupled operating system for multi- Hide and manage

• DOS (Distributed Operating Systems)

• Separating applications from operating

• But no longer have shared memory

• OSes can be different (Windows or Linux)

• Can have one computer provide files transparently for others

• Different clients may mount the servers in different places

• Much middleware built in-house to help use networked

• If can do so without connection, quite simple

• Example of an Internet search engine

• Thin client (a) to Fat client (e)

• Server may act as a client

• Rather than vertical, distribute servers across nodes

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