IB Computer Science Topic A3.4.4: Features of Distributed Databases Notes

What is a Distributed Database

1. A distributed database is a database that is stored across multiple physical locations (servers or cloud).
2. It appears to users as one single database, even though it's spread across sites.

Types of Distributed Databases

1. Homogeneous
   1. All sites use the same DBMS, schema, and OS.
   2. Easier to manage.
2. Heterogeneous
   1. Sites may use different DBMSs, schemas, and OSs.
   2. Requires translation layers and is harder to maintain.

Methods of Distribution

1. Fragmentation
   1. Database is split into parts, and each site manages a fragment.
   2. Useful when local data is accessed more frequently.
2. Replication
   1. Copies of the data (or whole database) are stored at multiple sites.
   2. Improves reliability and availability, but increases complexity.

The Need for Data Consistency

1. Data Consistency ensures that all users see the same data, regardless of which part of the database they access.
2. In a distributed system, data consistency is challenging due to:
   1. Network Latency: Delays in data synchronization across locations.
   2. Concurrent Access: Multiple users updating the same data simultaneously.

The Role of ACID in Distributed Databases

1. ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability.
2. These properties ensure reliable transaction processing, even in distributed environments.

Atomicity

1. Atomicity guarantees that a transaction is all-or-nothing.
2. In a distributed database, this means:
   1. If a transaction updates data in multiple locations, either all updates succeed, or none do.

Consistency

1. Consistency ensures that a transaction brings the database from one valid state to another.
2. In distributed systems, this requires:
   1. Synchronizing updates across all locations.

Isolation

1. Isolation ensures that concurrent transactions do not interfere with each other.
2. Techniques like locking and timestamping are used to maintain isolation.

Durability

1. Durability guarantees that once a transaction is committed, it remains so, even in the event of a system failure.