Case Study: WWW as Distributed System
DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM NOTES, TU,IOE,BCA
CASE STUDY : WWW AS DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM
WWW
The World Wide Web (WWW or simply the Web) is a system of interlinked hypertext documents and multimedia content accessible via the Internet. It was invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 while he was working at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. The Web revolutionized how information is shared and accessed, becoming an integral part of modern life.
Hypertext and Hyperlinks:
Hypertext: This is text that contains links (hyperlinks) to other texts. It allows users to navigate between web pages by clicking on these links.
Hyperlinks: These are references to other documents or resources, which users can follow by clicking.
WWW AS DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM
The World Wide Web (WWW) is referred to as a distributed system due to its architecture and operational principles, which involve the distribution of data and processing across multiple locations. Here are the key reasons for this classification:
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Geographical Distribution:
- Multiple Servers: The web consists of numerous servers spread across the globe, each hosting different websites and web services. These servers can be located in different geographical locations, often in data centers that are widely dispersed.
- Data Distribution: Content is stored and retrieved from multiple locations. For example, the same website can be mirrored across different servers in various regions to improve access speed and redundancy.
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Client-Server Model:
- Clients and Servers: The WWW operates on a client-server model, where web browsers (clients) request resources from web servers. This model inherently involves distributed processing because clients and servers communicate over the internet, which is a vast network of interconnected systems.
- Stateless Communication: The HTTP protocol, which is fundamental to web communication, is stateless and involves a series of requests and responses between clients and servers, further emphasizing the distributed nature of interactions.
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Resource Sharing:
- Distributed Resources: Resources such as web pages, images, videos, and applications are stored on various servers. Users access these resources by connecting to different servers across the internet, which distributes the load and makes resource management more efficient.
- Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): CDNs are a critical component of the web’s distributed system architecture. They cache and serve content from servers located closer to the user, reducing latency and improving load times.
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Redundancy and Fault Tolerance:
- Fault Tolerance: Distributed systems are designed to be resilient. If one server fails, others can take over its functions. This redundancy ensures that the web remains operational even when individual components fail.
- Load Balancing: Traffic can be distributed across multiple servers to balance the load, ensuring no single server becomes a bottleneck, which enhances performance and reliability.
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Scalability:
- Scalable Infrastructure: The distributed nature of the web allows it to scale easily. New servers and resources can be added to handle increased load or to provide new services without significantly disrupting existing operations.
- Decentralization: No single entity controls the entire web, allowing for organic growth and scalability. Different organizations and individuals can contribute resources and content independently.
Future Trends
- Web 3.0: Often referred to as the Semantic Web, this aims to make data more interconnected and accessible by machines, enabling smarter information retrieval and processing.
- AI and Machine Learning: Integration of AI technologies is expected to make web services more intuitive and personalized.
- Decentralization: Technologies like blockchain aim to create a more decentralized web, reducing reliance on central servers and increasing privacy and security.