- Model question
Autonomous vs distributed system
Short answer
A distributed system is a collection of independent computers connected by a network, appearing as one coherent system and communicating by message passing. An autonomous system is a single computer with its own OS and control that does not cooperate with others; a laptop is autonomous, while the web and cloud storage are distributed systems with resource sharing, partial failures, and scalability by adding nodes.
Define distributed system. Differentiate between an autonomous system and a distributed system with examples.
Definition
A distributed system is a collection of independent computers, connected by a network and running distribution middleware, that appears to its users as a single coherent system. Its components communicate and coordinate their actions only by passing messages (Tanenbaum; Coulouris).
An autonomous (stand-alone) system is a single computer, or a group of computers each working independently, that has its own OS, memory, clock and control and does not co-operate with others in running applications.
Difference
| Point | Autonomous system | Distributed system |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | One computer, self-contained | Many computers joined by a network |
| Co-operation | None; independent work | Components co-operate to do a common task |
| Control | Local OS controls all resources | Control is shared and spread over nodes |
| Resource sharing | Only local resources | Remote resources are shared |
| System view | Single machine | Appears as one system (transparency) |
| Communication | Not needed (or by files) | Message passing between nodes |
| Failure | Whole machine stops | Partial failures, others continue |
| Scalability | Limited by hardware | Add nodes to grow |
| Complexity | Low | High (synchronisation, consistency) |
| Example | A personal laptop running a word processor | Web, cloud storage, bank network |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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