Ics2403:Distributed Systems Question Paper
Ics2403:Distributed Systems
Course:Bachelor Of Information Technology
Institution: Meru University Of Science And Technology question papers
Exam Year:2014
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer question one and any other two questions
QUESTION ONE – (30 MARKS
(a) Define a distributed system and give three examples in modern society (10 marks)
(b) Using three examples explain how distributed systems work. (10 marks)
(c) A distributed computation may involve related operations on a number of objects which reside at different nodes of a distributed system. Explain how different nodes can be enabled to function effectively in distributed systems. (10 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)
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QUESTION THREE – (20MARKS)
(a) Explain the importance of ensuring the timeliness of messages 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 synchronisation? (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) Explain 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) Discuss the requirements on the RPC systems that follow from the use of multithreaded processes. (6 marks)
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