Question

Write a Note on the Low-level nature of Distributed
File systems that affect storage of the Master
Dataset.
​

Answer 1

Answer:

�        Two main purposes of using files:

1.     Permanent storage of information on a secondary storage media.

2.     Sharing of information between applications.

�        A file system is a subsystem of the operating system that performs file management activities such as organization, storing, retrieval, naming, sharing, and protection of files.

�        A file system frees the programmer from concerns about the details of space allocation and layout of the secondary storage device.

 The design and implementation of a distributed file system is more complex than a conventional file system due to the fact that the users and storage devices are physically dispersed.

In addition to the functions of the file system of a single-processor system, the distributed file system supports the following:

 

1.     Remote information sharing

Thus any node, irrespective of the physical location of the file, can access the file.

 2.     User mobility

User should be permitted to work on different nodes.

 3.     Availability

For better fault-tolerance, files should be available for use even in the event of temporary failure of one or more nodes of the system. Thus the system should maintain multiple copies of the files, the existence of which should be transparent to the user.

 4.     Diskless workstations

A distributed file system, with its transparent remote-file accessing capability, allows the use of diskless workstations in a system.

 

�        A distributed file system provides the following types of services:

 1.     Storage service

Allocation and management of space on a secondary storage device thus providing a logical view of the storage system.

2.     True file service

Includes file-sharing semantics, file-caching mechanism, file replication mechanism, concurrency control, multiple copy update protocol etc.

Explanation: