What is Distributed Operating System?
Definition: In this article, we will fully explain distributed operating system. Distributed operating system allows distributing of entire systems on the couples of center processors, and it serves on the multiple real time products as well as multiple users.
All processors make connection with valid communication medium such as high speed buses and telephone lines. In which every processor contains own local memory along with other local processor. According this nature, distributed operating system is known as loosely coupled systems.
This operating system involves multiple computers, nodes, and sites, and these components get link each other with LAN/WAN lines. Distributed OS is capable for sharing their computational capacity and I/O files with allowing the virtual machine abstraction to users.
Types of Distributed Operating System
Classification of distributed operating system can be done in three areas, such as
- Client-Server Systems
- Peer-to-Peer Systems
- Middleware
Client-Server Systems
Client-Server Systems is known as “Tightly Coupled Operating System”. This system designed mostly for multiprocessors and homogeneous multi-computer. Client-Server Systems works as a centralized server; because it provides the approval to all requests, which generated by client systems side.
Server systems can be divided into two segments:
Computer Server System
This system allows the interface, and then client sends own all requests for executing as action. Finally it sends to back response after executing action, and transfer result to client.
File Server System
It allows the file system interface for clients because their clients can perform various tasks such as creation, updating, deletion files, and more.
Objective – Hide and manage hardware resources.
Peer-to-Peer System
Peer-to-Peer System is known as a “Loosely Couple System”. This concept implements in the computer network application because it contains the bunch of processors, and they are not shareable memories or clocks as well.
Every processors consist own local memory, and these processors make communication with each other through various communication medium such as high speed buses or telephone lines.
Objective – It provides local services to remote clients.
Middleware
Middleware allows the interoperability in the between of all applications, which are running on other operating systems. With using these services those applications are capable for transferring all data each other.
Objective – It allows the distribution transparency.
Applications of Distributed Operating System
There are various real life applications of operating system such as
- Telecommunication networks
- Internet Technology
- Peep-to-peer networks system
- Airline reservation Control systems
- Distributed databases System
- Distributed Object Based System
- Distributed Document System
- Distributed Coordination Based System
- Distributed Multimedia System
- Emerging System
- Scientific computing System
- Distributed rendering System in Computer Graphics
- Global positioning System
- World Wide Web
- Air Traffic Control System
- Automated Banking System
- Multiplayer online gaming
- Airplane Control Towers System
- Scientific Computing System
- Cluster Computing
- Grid Computing
- Data rendering
- Wireless sensor N/W System
- Routing Algorithms
- Network File System
- Industrial Control Equipment
Distributed Operating System Example
Here, huge list of distributed operating system. Read each one carefully
LOCUS
In LOCUS operating system, can be accessed local and remote file in simultaneously without any location hindrance.
MICROS
MICROS operating system maintains the balance load of data while allotting the jobs to all nodes of entire system.
IRIX
IRIX operating system uses in the UNIX system V and LINUX.
DYNIX
DYNIX operating system developed for the Symmetry multiprocessor computers.
AIX
AIX operating system is designed for IBM RS/6000 computers.
Solaris
Solaris operating system designed for SUN multiprocessor workstations.
Mach
Mach operating system allows the multithreading and multitasking features.
OSF/1
OSF/1 operating system is compatible with UNIX that designed by Open Foundation Software Company.
Other Important Examples of Distributed Operating System
- Windows server 2003
- Windows server 2008
- Windows server 2012
- Ubuntu
- Linux (Apache Server)
- AEGIS
- AMOEBA
- Arachne
- Charlotte
- CHOICES
- Clouds
- CMDS
- CONDOR
- Cronus
- DEMOS/MP
- DISTOS
- DISTRIX
- Eden
- Galaxy
- MDX
- MICROS
- MOS
- MOSIX
- Newark
- NSMOS
- Plan9
- REPOS
- RIG
- Roscoe
- Saguaro
- SODA
- SODS/OS
- Spring
- Uniflex
Advantages of Distributed Operating System
In this section, we will spread the light on numerous features and characteristics of distributed operating system.
- It can share all resources such as (CPU, disk, network interface, nodes, computers, and more) from one site to another site, and it increases the data availability on entire system.
- It enhances the speed of data exchange from one site to other site.
- It reduces the probability of data corruption because all data get replicating on all site. If any site gets fail then user can access data from other running site.
- It provides excellent services to all users.
- It helps to decrease the load of jobs on one host system.
- It can also scale easily; it means any network can attach with other network without hindrance.
- It is more reliable to single system.
- It has excellent performance.
- Better portability.
- Better re-usability of existing hardware components.
- It helps to decrease the duration time in data processing.
- It is high fault tolerance system.
- Better flexibility, due to easy to use, install and error detection.
- It is openness system because this system can also access from local and remote sites.
- Entire system works independently from each other and due to this feature if any one site gets crash then entire system does not halt.
- Well protective system because in distributed operating system, every users has unique UID and with using this UID all users can use every system. Due to UID, no chance hack data from this system.
Disadvantages of Distributed Operating System
Here, we will spread light on the different limitations of distributed operating system.
- If center hub gets fails then entire network will halt.
- Distributed operating system is designed with such language, which is not well defined till now.
- This system is more costly because it is not easily readable, and it contains the huge infrastructure.
- Some time security issues can be arise while sharing data on entire networks.
- Some data packet can be corrupted due to following in the large networks.
- Its maintenance is more costly because it is distributed across multiple servers.
- If, some time anyone site gets overload then it can be created big challenges.
- If, same time multiple users try to access same data from local database as well as remote data base then its performance can get degrade.
- Administration is very difficult task in distributed operating system.
- Distributed operating system only can support few software.
