Distributed systems (ˈdɪs.tɹɪ.bjuː.tɪd ˈsɪs.təmz) are computer systems in which multiple components located on different computers communicate and coordinate their actions through a network. The word "distributed" (dɪs.tɹɪ.bjuː.tɪd) is spelled with a "d" at the beginning, followed by the "is" sound represented by the "s" and "t" letters, and then the "tri" sound represented by the letters "b" and "u". The "ted" ending is spelled with the letters "t" and "e" representing the sounds "t" and "ɪd" respectively. The word "systems" (ˈsɪs.təmz) is spelled with the "s" and "t" letters representing the "
Distributed Systems refer to a type of computer system architecture that involves multiple interconnected computers or nodes working together to accomplish a specific task or objective. In this system, each computer individually performs specific functions and communicates with other computers, sharing resources, data, and workload. The overall goal of distributed systems is to enhance performance, reliability, and scalability.
These systems are characterized by their decentralized nature, where there is no central control or authority. Instead, each node in the system has its own processing power and data storage capabilities.
One of the main advantages of distributed systems is their ability to provide high availability and fault tolerance. In case of a failure or malfunction of one node, other nodes can continue to operate and maintain the system's functionality. Additionally, distributed systems can handle large-scale computation and data processing since the workload is shared among multiple computers.
Distributed systems can be found in various domains such as cloud computing, peer-to-peer networks, and distributed databases. They rely on different communication protocols and mechanisms to enable node coordination and information exchange.
Overall, distributed systems allow for efficient utilization of resources, improved performance, increased reliability, and scalability. However, designing and managing such systems can be complex, requiring the consideration of issues such as synchronization, consistency, and fault tolerance.
The word "distributed systems" is a compound term, where each part has its own etymology:
1. Distributed:
- The word "distributed" comes from the Latin word "distributus", which is the past participle of "distribuere", meaning "to divide" or "to apportion". It consists of the prefix "dis-" (apart or asunder) and the verb "tribuere" (to assign or allot).
2. Systems:
- The word "systems" comes from the Latin word "sistema", which means a "whole compounded of several parts". It originated from the Greek word "systēma", meaning "organized body or whole".
Together, "distributed systems" refers to computer systems or networks consisting of multiple computers or components that work together as a cohesive unit, with the allocation of tasks and processing spread across different nodes within the network.