Characteristics of Distributed database management system
1. Data distribution: A distributed database management system (DDBMS) stores data across multiple computers or servers, geographically distributed. The data can be divided into smaller parts and stored at different nodes of the network.
2. Data replication: DDBMS allows data replication, where multiple copies of the same data are stored at different locations to improve data availability and reliability. Replication can be synchronous or asynchronous, depending on the system requirements.
3. Data transparency: DDBMS provides a transparent view of data to the users. Regardless of where the data is physically stored, users can access and query the data using a single logical view of the database.
4. Data consistency: DDBMS ensures data consistency across distributed nodes through various techniques like two-phase commit protocols, quorum-based consensus algorithms, or timestamp ordering schemes. These techniques guarantee that all copies of the data remain consistent and up-to-date.
5. Scalability: Distributed databases can scale horizontally, meaning more nodes or servers can be added to the network to handle increased data or user load. This scalability allows the database to handle larger data volumes and higher transaction rates.
6. Fault tolerance: DDBMS provides fault tolerance by replicating data across multiple nodes. If one node fails or becomes unavailable, the system can continue to serve data from other nodes, ensuring high availability and uninterrupted service for users.
7. Data independence: DDBMS provides data independence, where applications and users are shielded from the physical details of data storage and distribution. Applications can access and manipulate data without being aware of its physical location.
8. Distributed query processing: DDBMS supports distributed query processing, where a single query can be executed simultaneously on multiple nodes. The query optimizer determines the optimal execution plan to minimize data transmission and response time.
9. Security and privacy: DDBMS offers security and privacy controls to protect data from unauthorized access or modifications. Access control mechanisms, encryption techniques, and data masking are commonly used to ensure data security in a distributed environment.
10. Interoperability: DDBMS can integrate and communicate with different types of databases and software systems. This interoperability allows data sharing and integration between multiple applications and databases, enabling seamless data exchange.