What is distrubuted computing?

Answer 1

Distributed computing indicates a relationship among multiple, remotely operating computers simultaneously involved in solving computational problems or facilitating data processing methods. Business enterprises frequently employ distributed computing as a way to implement the various stages comprising a particular process at the most efficacious point within the computer network. For example, typical distributed computing events accommodating the three-step model includes processing of the user interface at the user's computer and effecting business processes at a remote computer. Finally, processing as well as database access is completed within a separate computer capable of providing consolidated access for numerous business processes. This is also referred to as the "client/server" model of distributed computing.

One of the first instances of using distributing computing methods was enacted by the group distributed.net, in which users were able to break a cryptographic code. Early development of streamlining the communication of multiple computers through a single network in pursuit of a common goal has now evolved into the advanced field of distributed computing that permits finalization of computation problems in real time.

Other terms for distributed computing include parallel computing and concurrent computing, with slight variations in the meaning of these terms. Distributed computing, for example, involves processors with individual memories that are private and only shared when users deliberately exchange messages among processors. Alternately, parallel computing may involve users being able to access shared memory without needing to intentionally exchange data.

Fundamental properties characterizing a distributed computing system include:

• It must be able to sustain failures in remote computers
• It contains structural components, such as network latency and topology, that is not detected prior to creating the system
• Individual computers comprising the system have incomplete and limited views of the distributing computing system. In other words, each remote computer may have knowledge of only one aspect of the total input

Commonly used distributed computing applications and systems are cellular, internet and telephone networks; routing algorithms; peer-to-peer networks; virtual communities; multiplayer games; airline reservation, aircraft control and banking systems and grid/cluster computing.