Abdulrahman A. Mohamed Mobile: +254 713 500 814 Email: [email protected].

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TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MOMBASA

CCI 4301: ADVANCED DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
WEEK 2: INTRODUCTION TO TRANSACTION PROCESSING SYSTEMS

OUTLINE

• 1. Architecture of Transaction Processing Systems

• 2. Application of Transaction Processing Systems

1. Architecture of Transaction Processing Systems

Definition: Transaction Processing Systems (TPS) are computer-based systems that manage

and process transactions, which are discrete units of work involving the creation,

modification, or retrieval of data within an organization's business processes.

Explanation: TPS architecture is designed to ensure the efficient and reliable execution of

transactions in various industries, such as banking, retail, healthcare, and more. It typically

consists of the following components:

1. Transaction Processing in a Centralized System:

• Explanation: In a centralized TPS architecture, all transaction processing occurs on a

single central server or mainframe computer. This approach is suitable for smaller

organizations or those with relatively low transaction volumes.

• Real-World Example: A small retail store uses a centralized TPS for handling sales
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transactions. All point-of-sale terminals communicate with a central server to record

sales, manage inventory, and update customer accounts.

2. Transaction Processing in a Distributed System:

• Explanation: In a distributed TPS architecture, transaction processing is distributed

across multiple interconnected servers or nodes. This approach is suitable for larger

organizations with higher transaction volumes, as it provides scalability and fault

tolerance.

• Real-World Example: An e-commerce platform uses a distributed TPS to handle

online orders. Multiple servers in different geographic regions process transactions

simultaneously to handle high traffic loads and ensure redundancy.

3. Transaction Processing in Heterogeneous Systems:

• Explanation: Heterogeneous TPS architecture involves systems with diverse

hardware, operating systems, and databases. Integration mechanisms and

middleware are essential to ensure interoperability between these components.

• Real-World Example: An international airline uses a heterogeneous TPS to manage

flight reservations. It integrates systems from different countries with various

technologies to provide a seamless booking experience.

4. TP Monitor:

• Explanation: A TP Monitor (Transaction Processing Monitor) is a software

component responsible for managing and coordinating transaction processing in a

distributed environment. It ensures that transactions are executed reliably and

efficiently.

• Real-World Example: A large financial institution relies on a TP Monitor to handle

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millions of daily transactions across its global network of branches. The TP Monitor

ensures that transactions are processed consistently and that failures are managed

without data loss.

5. Isolation:

• Explanation: Isolation in TPS refers to the concept that transactions should be

executed independently of each other. Each transaction should not be aware of

other concurrent transactions to avoid interference and maintain data consistency.

• Real-World Example: In a banking TPS, when two customers simultaneously

withdraw money from their accounts at different ATMs, isolation ensures that each

transaction deducts the correct amount without interference from the other.

6. Cascaded Aborts:

• Explanation: Cascaded aborts occur when a transaction failure leads to the rollback

of dependent or cascading transactions. This ensures that changes made by the main

transaction and its dependent transactions are undone.

• Real-World Example: In an online shopping cart system, if a customer's payment

transaction fails, cascaded aborts would ensure that any inventory reservation or

order creation transactions associated with it are also rolled back to maintain

consistency.

7. Strictness:

• Explanation: Strictness in TPS refers to the degree of control and constraint imposed

on transactions to maintain data integrity. It can involve enforcing strict locking

mechanisms or isolation levels.

• Real-World Example: A stock exchange uses strict TPS controls to ensure that buy
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and sell orders are executed in a strict and regulated manner, preventing any

unauthorized or inconsistent transactions.

2. Application of Transaction Processing Systems

a) Transaction Processing in a Centralized System:

Definition: Transaction Processing in a Centralized System refers to the approach where all

transaction processing activities occur on a single central server or mainframe computer.

Explanation: In a centralized TPS architecture, the core idea is to centralize all transaction-

related operations and data on a single, powerful server. This model is suitable for smaller

organizations or those with relatively low transaction volumes. Here's a more detailed

breakdown:

• Single Central Server: The central server, often a mainframe computer or a powerful

enterprise-class server, is responsible for receiving, processing, and storing all

transactions. It acts as the central point of control.

• Data Storage: All data, including the database, is typically stored on the central

server. This ensures that there is a single source of truth for the organization's data.

• Data Integrity: Data integrity is relatively easier to maintain in a centralized system

since all transactions are processed on the same server. This helps in enforcing data

consistency and integrity constraints.

• Scalability: Centralized systems may face limitations in terms of scalability. As

transaction volumes increase, the central server may become a performance

bottleneck. This can be addressed by upgrading the server or transitioning to a

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distributed system.

• Fault Tolerance: Fault tolerance can be a concern in centralized systems. If the

central server fails, it can lead to a complete system outage. Therefore, backup and

redundancy mechanisms are crucial to minimize downtime.

Real-World Example: Consider a small local retail store that uses a centralized TPS for its

daily operations. All cash registers in the store are connected to a central server where sales

transactions are processed, inventory levels are updated, and customer accounts are

managed. This centralization simplifies data management and ensures consistency in sales

data.

b). Transaction Processing in a Distributed System:

Definition: Transaction Processing in a Distributed System involves the distribution of

transaction processing across multiple interconnected servers or nodes.

Explanation: In a distributed TPS architecture, transaction processing is decentralized, and

the workload is distributed across multiple servers or nodes. This model is suitable for larger

organizations with higher transaction volumes and offers benefits such as scalability and

fault tolerance. Here's a closer look:

• Multiple Servers: Multiple servers, often located in different geographical locations,

share the load of processing transactions. These servers can communicate with each

other to coordinate and manage transactions.

• Scalability: Distributed systems are highly scalable. When transaction volumes

increase, new servers can be added to the network, distributing the workload and

ensuring efficient processing.

• Redundancy and Fault Tolerance: Distributed systems are inherently fault-tolerant.

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If one server fails, other servers can continue processing transactions, minimizing

downtime. Data replication and backup strategies enhance redundancy.

• Complexity: Managing a distributed system can be more complex than a centralized

system. It requires mechanisms for load balancing, data synchronization, and

ensuring that transactions are processed consistently across nodes.

• Data Distribution: Data may be distributed across multiple nodes, and data access

must be carefully managed to ensure data consistency and integrity.

Real-World Example: An e-commerce platform with a global customer base uses a

distributed TPS. Multiple servers in different regions process orders, manage inventory, and

handle customer accounts. This architecture allows the platform to handle high traffic loads

efficiently and provides fault tolerance in case of server failures.

c). Transaction Processing in Heterogeneous Systems:

Definition: Transaction Processing in Heterogeneous Systems involves systems with diverse

hardware, operating systems, and databases, where integration mechanisms and

middleware are crucial for interoperability.

Explanation: Heterogeneous TPS architecture deals with systems that have varying

technologies and infrastructures. These systems might include a mix of hardware platforms,

operating systems, and databases. Ensuring seamless communication and data exchange

between these diverse components is the primary challenge. Here's a more detailed

explanation:

• Diverse Components: In heterogeneous systems, you may have different types of

servers, databases, and software applications. These components may not naturally

communicate or work together.

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• Integration Mechanisms: Middleware and integration solutions are essential in

heterogeneous systems. Middleware acts as a bridge between different systems,

enabling them to communicate and share data.

• Data Transformation: Data might need to be transformed between different formats

and structures to ensure compatibility between systems. Data integration tools

perform these transformations.

• Interoperability: Ensuring interoperability between systems is critical. This involves

defining communication protocols, data formats, and APIs (Application

Programming Interfaces) that enable different components to interact seamlessly.

• Complexity: Heterogeneous systems can be complex to manage due to the need to

coordinate different technologies and vendors. However, they provide flexibility

and can accommodate legacy systems.

Real-World Example: An international airline with a complex IT infrastructure may operate

in heterogeneous systems. It might use different reservation systems, databases, and

applications in various countries. Middleware and integration solutions enable these

disparate systems to work together, ensuring passengers can book flights and access their

reservations regardless of the country they are in.