Bct2307 :Distributed Systems Question Paper
Bct2307 :Distributed Systems
Course:Computer Technology
Institution: Meru University Of Science And Technology question papers
Exam Year:2012
1
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer question one and any other two questions
QUESTION ONE – 30 MARKS
a. Define a distributed system and give examples in modern society. (8 Marks)
b. Using examples explain how distributed systems work. (8 Marks)
c. A distributed computation may involve related operations on a number of objects which reside at
different nodes of a distributed system. Explain why the concept of transaction is suitable for
modeling such a computation. (7 Marks)
d. Give the advantages of using the server site processing on threads instead of using a single process.
(7 Marks)
QUESTION TWO – 20 MARKS
a. Meru University proposed a design for a workstation with hardware-enforced protection of the
system software. Trusted software could then be run on the workstation. Discuss the advisability of
this approach to workstation design. (8 Marks)
b. Explain how distributed inter-process communication (IPC) is supported in the distributed systems.
(6 Marks)
c. Give examples any modes of IPC in distributed systems. (6 Marks)
2
QUESTION THREE – 20 MARKS
a. Explain the importance of ensuring the timeliness of message of message in cryptographic protocols.
(8 Marks)
b. Give a careful account of the main techniques used for ensuring timeliness, including any
environmental assumptions. (6 Marks)
c. Under what circumstances is it proper to use time values when there is no clock synchronization?
(6 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR – 20 MARKS
a. What are the problems of passing data values between different machines with different operating
systems? (8 Marks)
b. Explain how these problems can be solved. (6 Marks)
c. Discuss what is involved in committing a transaction in a distributed system. (6 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE – 20 MARKS
A distributed software system follows the client-server model. The microkernel on which it is based
supports multi-threaded processes. A remote procedure call (RPC) package is used for client-server
interactions. The RPC system runs above an unreliable, datagram-based communications service.
a. Explain how timers may be used in the RPC protocol to achieve client-server synchronization.
(8 Marks)
b. Discuss how the RPC system may support the location of remote procedures. (6 Marks)
c. Discus the requirements on the use of multithreaded processes. (6 Marks)
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