Distributed Databases

Andrew Mwaura

Lecture 1

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Outline
⚫ Motivation of Distributed Databases
⚫ Distributed Data Processing Vs Distributed
Database
⚫ Distributed Databases
⚫ Partitioning
⚫ Replication
⚫ Advantages and Disadvantages of Distributed Databases

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Motivation of Distributed Databases

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Distributed Database - A User’s View

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Distributed Database - Reality

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 Peer-to-Peer Databases

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Distributed Database
Applications
⚫ Corporate MIS
⚫ Hotel Chains
⚫ Manufacturing

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 Distributed Processing vs Distributed Database
Definition (Distributed Data Processing)
⚫ Refers to the deployment of related computing tasks across
one or more discreet computing system, or “nodes”.
⚫ Nodes may or may not be geographically dispersed
⚫ A central processing unit stores data and manages access to
that data by the nodes (the “client/server” model).
⚫ The central unit, the “server”, stores and manages the data,
while the nodes act on it, typically using locally loaded
software.

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Distributed Processing…
⚫ This has the effect of putting the data under the control of
end users, subject to restrictions imposed by the server.
i.e. Distribution of control

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Distributed Processing…
⚫ Early distributed data processing systems worked with a
single centralized database.
⚫ Smaller local systems started to store local databases as
well as do local data processing.
⚫ Move to central database distributed to local processors
as long as:
⚫ Accurate updating of data
⚫ Integrity of Data
⚫ Sharing of Data
⚫ Central Administrative controls
Could all be assured and maintained

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Distributed Processing
Why is the increase in DDP?
⚫ Dramatically reduced workstation costs
⚫ Improved user interfaces and desktop power
⚫ Ability to share data across multiple servers

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Distributed Database
Definition (DDB)
⚫ A distributed database (DDB) is a collection of
multiple, logically interrelated databases over a
computer network

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Distributed Database…
Definition (D-DBMS)
⚫ A distributed database management system (D-DBMS) is the
software that manages the DDB and provides an access
mechanism that makes the distribution transparent to users

Distributed Database System (DDBS) = DDB + D-DBMS

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Distributed Database…
⚫ Consists of a collection of data with different parts under
the control of separate DBMSs running on independent
computer systems.

⚫ Parts (Partition d/b) or copies (Replicated d/b) are

physically stored in one location and other parts or copies
are stored and maintained in other locations

⚫ All the computers are interconnected and each system has

autonomous processing capability serving local
applications

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Distributed Database
⚫ Data in a distributed DBMS can be
(a) Partitioned or
(b) Replicated
(c) or both

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Distributed Database
(a) Data partitioning
⚫ In a distributed DBMS a relational table may be broken
up into two or more non-overlapping partitions or
slices.
⚫ A table may be broken up horizontally, vertically, or a
combination of both.
⚫ Partitions may in turn be replicated. This feature causes
problems for concurrency control and catalogue
management in distributed databases.
⚫ Partitioning is transparent to users.

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Distributed Database
(b) Data replication
⚫ In a distributed DBMS a relational table or a partition
may be replicated or copied, and copies may be
distributed throughout the database.
⚫ This feature can cause problems for propagating
updates and concurrency control
⚫ Is transparent to users in distributed databases

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Distributed Database
Advantages
⚫ Capacity and incremental growth
⚫ Reliability and availability
⚫ Improved performance
⚫ Improved shareability and local autonomy

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 Distributed Database
Capacity and incremental growth
⚫ As the organisation grows, new sites can be added with little or
no change to the DBMS
⚫ Does not involve upgrading with changes in hardware and
software that effect the entire database

Reliability and availability

⚫ Even when a portion of a system (i.e. a local site) is down, the
overall system remains available
⚫ With replicated data, the failure of one site still allows access to
the replicated copy of the data from another site
⚫ The greater accessibility enhances the reliability of the system.

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 Distributed Database
Improved performance
⚫ Data is physically stored close to the anticipated
point of use
⚫ If usage patterns change then data can be
dynamically moved or replicated to where it is most
needed

Improved shareability and local autonomy

⚫ users at a given site are able to access data stored at
other sites and at the same time retain control over
the data at their own site.

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 Distributed Database
Disadvantages …
⚫ Increased Cost
⚫ Complexity
⚫ Security
⚫ Integrity control may be difficult

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 Distributed Database
Increased Cost
⚫ Implementation are its cost and complexity
⚫ Maintenance costs of the system are higher
⚫ Large communication overhead in coordinating
messages between the different sites
Security
⚫ Security risk is high
⚫ Needs secure network communication

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 Distributed Database
Complexity
⚫ A distributed system, which hides its distributed
nature from the end user, is more complex than the
centralised system
⚫ The parallel nature of the system means that errors
are harder to avoid and those in the applications are
difficult to pinpoint
Integrity control may be difficult
⚫ Validity and consistency of stored data
⚫ Communication and processing cost required to
enforce the integrity constraints may be significant
in some situations
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 Summary
⚫ Motivation of Distributed Databases
⚫ Distributed Data Processing Vs Distributed
Database
⚫ Distributed Databases
⚫ Partitioning
⚫ Replication
⚫ Advantages and Disadvantages of Distributed
Databases

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