Parallel databases store data in a centralized location and use multiple
processors to access the data simultaneously for faster retrieval.
Distributed databases store data across multiple independent sites so the
data is geographically dispersed. Query processing and transactions are
more complicated in distributed databases due to the independence of
each site and slower interconnection between sites.
Original Description:
Difference between Parallel and Distributed databases
Last Updated : 16 Jan, 2023
1. Parallel Database :
A parallel DBMS is a DBMS that runs across multiple processors and is designed to
execute operations in parallel, whenever possible. The parallel DBMS link a number
of smaller machines to achieve the same throughput as expected from a single
large machine.
Features :
1. There are parallel working of CPUs
2. It improves performance
3. It divides large tasks into various other tasks
4. Completes works very quickly
2. Distributed Database :
A Distributed database is defined as a logically related collection of data that is
shared which is physically distributed over a computer network on different sites.
The Distributed DBMS is defined as, the software that allows for the management of
the distributed database and makes the distributed data available for the users.
Features :
1. It is a group of logically related shared data
2. The data gets split into various fragments
3. There may be a replication of fragments
4. The sites are linked by a communication network
The main difference between the parallel and distributed databases is that the
former is tightly coupled and then later loosely coupled.
Difference between Parallel and Distributed databases :
Parallel Database Distributed Database
In parallel databases, processes are tightly In distributed databases, the sites are loosely
coupled and constitutes a single database coupled and share no physical components i.e.,
system i.e., the parallel database is a distributed database is our geographically
centralized database and data reside in a departed, and data are distributed at several
single location locations.
In parallel databases, query processing and In distributed databases, query processing and
transaction is complicated. transaction is more complicated.
In distributed databases, a local and global
In parallel databases, it’s not applicable. transaction can be transformed into distributed
database systems
In parallel databases, the data is partitioned In distributed databases, each site preserve a
among various disks so that it can be local database system for faster processing due
retrieved faster. to the slow interconnection between sites
In parallel databases, there are 3 types of
Distributed databases are generally a kind of
architecture: shared memory, shared disk,
shared-nothing architecture
and shared shared-nothing.
In distributed databases, query Optimisation
In parallel databases, query optimization is
techniques may be different at different sites
more complicated.
and are easy to maintain
In distributed databases, data is replicated at
In parallel databases, data is generally not
any number of sites to improve the
copied.
performance of systems
Parallel databases are generally Distributed databases may be homogeneous or
homogeneous in nature heterogeneous in nature.
Skew is the major issue with the increasing Blocking due to site failure and transparency
degree of parallelism in parallel databases. are the major issues in distributed databases.
