Information Technology Architectures - Essay Example

Distributed system Architectures al Affiliation Distributed system Distributed system refers to a collection of several computers, connected through a network and a middleware distribution. Distributed system facilitates coordination of computers and system resource sharing which creates a single integrated computing facility to users. It is a computer science field that entails communication of multiple autonomous computers through a computer network. Computers in this system interact with each other thus achieving a common goal (Belapurkar, 2009).

This paper will focus on the fundamental components, advantages and disadvantages of distributed system architecture.Fundamental components of a distributed systemThe clientThe client is a workstation computer which runs front-end applications. It communicates with the user through the keyboard, mouse and the display. The client also recalls to the client process that operates on the client machine. The client performs its processes from the server displaying information managed by the server.

Therefore, the client does not posses responsibilities to direct data accessibility; thus the client workstation can be optimized for its duties. For example, it requires minimal disk capacity. The client is indispensable to allow implementation of several client servers, ranging from personal computers to mainframes and several client interfaces to store and retrieve information. Oracle 7 implements the ANSI/ISO and SQL interfaces and standards fully support the client environment (Belapurkar, 2009).

The serverThe server is a tool that Oracle7 software runs on and handles the essential functions for concurrent access of shared data. Referred to as back-end server, a statement derived from the processes that the server machine does (Belapurkar, 2009). The server process SQL and PL/SQL statements received from the client applications. The server can be optimized for its functions. For example, it can have fast processors and a large disk capacity. It can also take the input/output disk operations such as, file transfer and printing of documents.

The networkThe network facilitates remote data access through a server to the server and client server communication. Oracle’s network facilities allow applications and databases to reside on different computers with different operating systems at the same time communicating as peer applications (Belapurkar, 2009). .Advantages of distributed system architecturesDistributed systems architecture enhances hardware and software resource sharing as shown from a loosely coupled distributed system which is a single-user workstation enabling accessibility, of shared resources and data in other server computers (Belapurkar, 2009).

Distributed systems architecture also facilitates use of software and equipment from different vendors. Distributed system can easily be programmed and enhance continuous operations after fault occurrence and increased throughput by adding new resources as indicated in a tightly-coupled system. It connects several processors into an integrated hardware system controlled by a single operating system.Disadvantages of distributed system architecturesResponse is unpredictable due to network load and system organization.

Distributed systems are typically more complex than centralized ones and are extremely susceptible to external attack hence poor security.Conclusively, the distributed system architecture functionality must be provided in such a way that its complexities are transparent to both administrators and users (Belapurkar, 2009). ReferenceBelapurkar, A. (2009). Distributed systems security issues, processes, and solutions. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons.