Network /

Distributed
Operating
System
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 1
 Introduction
An Operating System(O.S) is a system software that
manages computer hardware resources and provides
common services for computer programs.
An operating system is the core software, which allows
a computer system to operate and execute its
commands as it was intended to do so.
The operating system manages the user interface,
hardware, and all other software components.
There are many types of operating systems depending
upon its features and functionalities. They include:
Windows, Linux, IOS, MacOS, Unix, Symbian, and
Android
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 2
Network Operating System

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 3

 Network Operating System
Network Operating System is a computer
operating system that facilitates to connect and
communicate various autonomous computers over a
network.
An autonomous computer is an independent
computer that has its own local memory, hardware,
and O.S. It is self capable to perform operations and
processing for a single user. They can either run the
same or different O.S.
The Network O.S runs on a powerful computer, that
runs the server program.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 4
 Network Operating System
The Network O.S facilitates the security and
capability of managing the data, user, group,
application, and other network functionalities.
The main advantage of using a network O.S, is, it
facilitates the sharing of resources and memory
amongst the autonomous computers in the network.
It can also facilitate the client computers to access
the shared memory and resources administered by
the Server computer. In other words, the Network
O.S. is mainly designed to allow multiple users to
share files and resources over the network.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 5
 Network Operating System
The Network O.S. is not transparent in nature, this is
because the workstations connected in the network are
aware of the multiplicity of the network devices.
The Network Operating Systems can distribute their
tasks and functions amongst connected nodes in the
network, which enhances the system overall
performance.
It can allow multiple access to the shared resources
concurrently, which results in efficiency.
One of the major importance of using a Network O.S. is
remote access. It facilitates one workstation to connect
and communicate with another workstation in a secure
manner. By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 6
 Network Operating System
In providing security, network O.S has authentication and
access control functionality.
It implements a lot of protocols over the network, which
provides a proper implementation of the network
functionalities.
One drawback of Network O.S. is its tightly coupled nature
(highly dependent on one another) in the network.
Some examples of Network O.S. are Novel Netware,
Microsoft Windows servers, Unix, Linux, etc.
There are mainly two types of Network O.S:
Peer-to-Peer
Client-Server
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 7
Peer-to-Peer

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 8

 Peer-to-Peer
Peer-to-Peer Network Operating System is an
operating system in which all the nodes are
functionally and operationally equal to each other.
No one is superior or inferior.
They all are capable to perform similar kinds of
tasks.
All the nodes have their own local memory and
resources.
Using the Network O.S., they can connect and
communicate with each other.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 9

 Peer-to-Peer
They can also share data and resources with one
another.
One node can also communicate and share data and
resources with a remote node in the network by
using the authentication feature of the Network O.S.
The nodes are directly connected with each other in
the network with the help of a switch or a hub.
Advantages:
1. Easy to install and setup.
2. The setup cost is low.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 10

 Peer-to-Peer
3. There is no requirement for any specialized
software.
4. The sharing of information and resources is fast and
easy.
Disadvantages:
1. The performance of autonomous computers may
not be so good when sharing some resources.
2. There is no centralized management.
3. It is less secure.
4. It does not have backup functionalities.
5. There is no centralized storage system.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 11
Client-Server

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 12

 Client-Server
The Client-Server Networking Operating System
operates with a single server and multiple client
computers in the network.
The Client O.S. runs on the client machine, while
the Network Operating System is installed on the
server machine.
The server machine is a centralized hub for all the
client machines.
The client machines generate a request for
information or some resource and forward it to the
server machine.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 13
 Client-Server
The server machine, in turn, replies to the client
machine by providing appropriate services to it in a
secure manner.
The server machine is a very powerful computer,
that is capable of tackling large calculations and
operations.
It can also have the ability to administer the whole
network and its resources.
It can be multiprocessing in nature, which can
process multiple client requests at the same time.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 14

 Client-Server
The Network O.S. enhances the reach of client
machines by providing remote access to other nodes
and resources of the network in a secure manner.
Advantages:
1. It has centralized control and administration.
2. It has a backup facility for lost data.
3. The shared data and resources can be accessed
concurrently by multiple clients.
4. It has better reliability and performance.
5. New technology can be easily integrated into
system.
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 Client-Server
Disadvantages:
1. The setup cost is very high.
2. There is a requirement of specialized software for
client and server machines to function properly.
3. There is a need for an administrator to administer
the network.
4. There may be network failure, in case of central
server failure.
5. A huge amount of client requests may overload the
server.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 16

 Network Operating System
Common functionalities of the Network Operating
System include:
1. Data and Resource sharing.
2. Performance.
3. Security.
4. Robustness.
5. Scalability.
6. Memory management.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 17

 Distributed Operating System
A Distributed Operating System is a system
software over a collection of independent,
networked, communicating, and physically separate
computational nodes.
It is a model where distributed applications are
running on multiple computers linked by
communications.
A distributed operating system is an extension of the
network operating system that supports higher levels
of communication and integration of the machines
on the network.
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Distributed Operating System

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 19

 Distributed Operating System
This system looks to its users like an ordinary
centralized operating system but runs on multiple,
independent central processing units (CPUs).
These systems are referred as loosely coupled
systems where each processor has its own local
memory and processors communicate with one
another through various communication lines, such
as high speed buses or telephone lines.
High-speed buses: A mechanism that transfers
data between components inside a computer.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 20

 Distributed Operating System
By loosely coupled systems, we mean that such
computers possess no hardware connections at the
CPU – memory bus level, but are connected by
external interfaces that run under the control of
software.
The Distributed Os involves a collection of
autonomous computer systems, capable of
communicating and cooperating with each other
through a LAN / WAN.
A Distributed Os provides a virtual machine
abstraction to its users and wide sharing of resources
like as computational capacity, I/O and files etc.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 21
 Distributed Operating System
The users of a true distributed system should not
know, on which machine their programs are running
and where their files are stored.
One of the big advantages of working with DOS is
that it is always possible that one user can access the
files or software, which they require, and utilize
them, however in reality these files are present on
another system network (so think of it similar to
remote working).

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 22

 DOS Architecture
In a DOS the following occurs:
All software and hardware compounds are located
remotely. In order for them to communicate with
each other, they pass messages.
One of the most important aspects of a distributed
system is resource sharing. Resources are managed
by servers and clients use these resources.
A DOS runs on a number of independent sites which
are connected through a communication network.
However it is portrayed to the user that they run their
own operating system.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 23

DOS Architecture

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 24

 DOS Architecture
There are four main types of distributed systems:
1. Client-server:
This type of system requires the client to request a
resource, and then the server provides that resource
which was requested. When a client is in contact
with one server, the server itself may serve multiple
clients at the same time.
Both the server and the client will communicate over
a computer network, which is part of a distributed
system.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 25

 DOS Architecture
2. Three-tier: The information about the client is stored
in the middle tier, instead of storing it in the client,
this is done to simplify development. This architecture
is most common in web applications.
3. n-tier: n-tier systems are used when the server or
application needs to forward requests to additional
enterprise services on the network.
4. Peer-to-peer: This type of system contains nodes that
are equal participants in data sharing, furthermore, all
the tasks are equally divided between all the nodes.
These nodes will interact with each other as required as
they share resources via a network.
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 DOS Characteristics
1. Heterogeneity:
In distributed systems, the components can have
differences and variety in programming languages,
operating systems, computer hardware, networks, and
implementations by different developers.
2. Openness:
With DOS, the “openness” is related to the extensions
and improvements of disturbed systems. A well-
defined and detailed interface of the components must
be published.
The new component, which is to be added, must be
easily integrated with existing components.
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 DOS Characteristics
3. Resource sharing:
The ability to use hardware, software, or data
anywhere in the system. The resource manager
controls access, moreover, it also provides naming
scheme and controls concurrency in the DOS.
The hardware resources are shared for convenience
and reductions in cost, in contrast, the data is shared
for consistency and exchange of information.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 28

 DOS Characteristics
4. Scalability:
In a DOS, the scalability of a system refers to how it
handles the growth as number of users on the system
platform increases. Scaling best occurs by adding more
systems to the network.
These components must be designed in a way that
allows them to be scalable too.
5. Fault Tolerance:
The system is designed in a way that it is still available
to the user despite a failure in the hardware, software,
or the network. Fault tolerance is achieved by recovery
and redundancy..
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 29
 DOS Characteristics
6. Concurrency:
This characteristic of the system enables multiple activities
in the system to be executed in the same time. In the
distributed system, the simultaneous execution of tasks
happens in different components running on multiple
machines, furthermore, these tasks could execute
interactions between each other.
The benefit of concurrency is increases the efficiency while
reducing the latency in the system.
In the DOS, the components access and update shared
resources (device drivers, variables, databases), moreover, if
concurrent updates are not coordinated it may result in
inconsistent analysis.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 30
 DOS Characteristics
7. Security:
In a DOS, the clients send requests to access data
managed by servers and resources in the networks.
In a DOS, security is acquired for the following:
Concealing the contents of messages.
Authentication

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 31

 DOS Characteristics
8. No global clock:
In a DOS, computers are connected through a
network, and each computer has its own clock (so a
system can have many clocks). Nodes communicate
between each other through message passing,
furthermore, their coordination is dependent on time,
as every client/computer has a different time span.
Even if the clocks were in sync, the individual clocks
on each component may run at a different rate, leading
them to be out of sync after one local clock cycle.
Though accurate time synchronization is impossible
in a DOS because it doesn’t provide a global clock.
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 DOS Characteristics
9. Flexibility:
Flexibility in a DOS is enhanced through modular
characteristics, and by providing a more enhanced
set of high level services. The quality and
completeness of the kernel/microkernel simplifies
implementation of such services.
10. Synchronization:
Systems, which are cooperating concurrent process,
have an inherent need for synchronization. This
ensures that changes happen in a correct and
predictable manner.
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 DOS Characteristics
11. Transparency:
DOS are perceived by programmers and users as a
whole system, rather than a collection of cooperating
components. Thus meaning the communication
between components is hidden.
Transparency directly affects the decision making in
every aspect of design of a DOS, it can imply certain
requirements and/or restrictions on other design
considerations.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 34

 DOS Transparency
There are 13 main types of transparency linked with
DOS:
1. Access Transparency: This allows local and remote
information objects to be accessed using identical
operations. (i.e. SQL Queries)
2. Location Transparency: Allows information objects
to be accessed without knowledge of their location.
(i.e. File system operation in a network file system).
3. Concurrency Transparency: Allows several
processes to work simultaneously while using a
shared information objects without interference
between them.)
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 35
 DOS Transparency
4. Mobility Transparency: This allows the movement of
information objects within the system without having an
affect to the application program or users. (i.e. Web
pages)
5. Migration Transparency: The system solely controls
resources and activities, which migrate from one element
to another. The system controls them without
user/application knowledge or intervention. (i.e. DBMS).
6. Replication Transparency: This allows multiple
instances of information objects to be used to increase
reliability and performance without the knowledge of the
replicas by users or application programs. (i.e.
Distributed DBMS)
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 36
 DOS Transparency
7. Failure Transparency: This type of transparency
enables the faults to be hidden, therefore allowing users
and applications alike to complete their tasks despite
failure of other components. (i.e. DBMS).
8. Performance Transparency: System can be
reconfigured to improve performance as loads vary.
9. Scaling Transparency: Allows the system and
application to expand in scale without having to change
the application architecture or the system architecture.
10. Revision Transparency: System is responsible for
revisions, upgrades, and changes that are made to the
system infrastructure without the user knowledge or
action.
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 DOS Transparency
11. Control Transparency: System is responsible to
provide all the system constants, properties,
information, and configuration settings etc.
12. Data Transparency: System provides data to
applications without the user knowledge/action as
to where the system stores it.
13. Parallelism Transparency: System exploits any
ability to parallelize task execution without the
need for user action or knowledge. This is probably
the most difficult aspect of transparency.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 38

 DOS Advantages
1. Scalability: As computing occurs on each node
independently, it is simple and inexpensive to add
more nodes and functionality as required.
2. Reliability: Most distributed systems are made
from many nodes that work together which
ultimately make them fault tolerant. The system
doesn’t experience any disruptions if a single
machine fails.
3. Performance: These systems are regarded to be
very efficient as the work load can be broken up
and sent to multiple machines, therefore reducing
data processing. By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 39
 DOS Advantages
4. Data sharing: Nodes can easily share data with
other nodes as they are connected with each other.
5. No domino effect incase of a node failure: The
failure of one node in a DOS does not have a
domino effect and enables all other nodes fail.
Other nodes can still communicate with each other
despite the failure.
6. Shareable: Resources, for instance like printers,
can be shared with multiple nodes rather than just
being constrained to just one node.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 40

 DOS Disadvantages
1. Scheduling: The system has to decide which jobs
need to be executed, when they should be
executed, and where they should be executed. A
scheduler will have limitations, this may lead to
under-utilized hardware and unpredictable
runtimes.
2. Latency: The more widely distributed a system is
the more latency can be experienced with
communications. This therefore results in
teams/developers to make tradeoffs between
availability, consistency and latency..

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 41

 DOS Disadvantages
3. Observability: It can be a real challenge to gather,
process, present, and monitor hardware usage
metrics for large clusters.
4. Security: It is difficult to place adequate security in
DOS, as the nodes and the connections need to be
secured.
5. Data loss: Some data/messages may be lost in the
network while moving from one node to another.
6. Complicated database: In comparison to a single
user system, the database connected to a DOS is
relatively complicated and difficult to handle.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 42
 DOS Disadvantages
7. Overloading: If multiple nodes in DOS send data
all at once, then the system network may become
overloaded.
8. Expensive: These systems are not readily available,
as they are regarded to be very expensive.
9. Complex software: Underlying software is highly
complex and is not understood very well compared
to other systems.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 43

 DOS Applications
1. Telecommunication Networks:
DOS are useful in phone network and cellular networks.
Networks such as the Internet, Wireless sensor networks,
routing algorithms are also examples of a DOS.
2. Real Time Process Control:
Real time process control system that operates with a
deadline, such examples include aircraft control systems.
3. Parallel Computation:
Systematic computer, which includes cluster computing
and grid computing as well as varied volunteer
computing projects are based on DOS.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 44

 DOS Applications
4. Network Applications:
Many network applications utilise DOS, such as Web,
P2P networks, multiplayer web based games and
virtual communities.
(P2P (peer to peer network) network are computer
systems which connect to each other via the Internet.
Files of these systems can be shared directly without
requiring a central server, ultimately meaning that
each computer on a P2P network becomes a file server
and a client).
An example: Banking systems, and airline reservation
booking systems.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 45
 DOS Examples
1. LOCUS: In LOCUS operating system, can be
accessed local and remote file in simultaneously
without any location hindrance.
2. MICROS: MICROS operating system maintains
the balance load of data while allotting the jobs to
all nodes of entire system.
3. IRIX: IRIX operating system is used in the UNIX
system V and LINUX.
4. DYNIX: DYNIX operating system is developed for
the Symmetry multiprocessor computers.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 46

 DOS Examples
5. AIX: AIX operating system is designed for IBM
RS/6000 computers.
6. Solaris: Solaris operating system designed for SUN
multiprocessor workstations.
7. Mach: Mach operating system allows the
multithreading and multitasking features.
8. OSF/1: OSF/1 operating system is compatible with
UNIX, and it is designed by Open Foundation
Software Company.
9. Windows server 2003, 2008, 2012.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 47

 Differences
Network and Distributed Operating systems have a
common hardware base, but the difference lies in
software:
Network Operating System Distributed Operating
System
Is made up of software and An ordinary centralized
associated protocols that operating system but runs on
allow a set of computer multiple independent CPUs.
network to be used together.
Environment users are aware Environment users are not
of multiplicity of machines. aware of multiplicity of
machines.

By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 48

 Differences
Network Operating System Distributed Operating
System
Control over file placement is It can be done automatically
done manually by the user. by the system itself.
Performance is badly affected It is more reliable or fault
if certain part of the hardware tolerant i.e performs even if
starts malfunctioning. certain part of the hardware
starts malfunctioning.
Remote resources are Users access remote resources
accessed by either logging in the same manner as they
into the desired remote access local resources.
machine or transferring data
from the remote machine to
user's own machines.
By: Ambrose Njeru [BSc, Msc] 49