--- title: "Applications, advantages of DS" subject: "Distributed System" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/distributed_system:ds-applications-advantages" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/distributed_system/ds-applications-advantages site: BCT Engineering --- # Applications, advantages of DS Distributed System · Chapter 1: Introduction - Asked in: 2073 Shrawan, 3+5 marks - Video: [Distributed system: Introduction to distributed system | Challenges | Applications | DCE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT565oxfBi8) — Tech Durable - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/distributed_system/ds-applications-advantages - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/distributed_system/chapter-1 ## Question What are the principal applications of Distributed System (DS)? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of DS. ## Short answer Principal applications include the web, banking/ATM networks, telecommunications, cloud computing, distributed databases, scientific computing, multimedia, and reservation systems. Advantages are economics, performance, reliability, resource sharing, scalability, and openness. Disadvantages are complexity, network dependence, security risks, partial failure, no global clock, and management cost. ## Answer #### Principal applications - **World Wide Web and Internet services:** web hosting, e-mail, search. - **Banking and finance:** ATM networks, online banking, stock exchange. - **Telecommunication:** mobile networks, VoIP. - **Cloud computing:** storage and computing services such as AWS, Google Drive. - **Distributed databases and file systems:** NFS, Google File System, the databases behind e-commerce sites. - **Scientific computing / grid:** weather forecasting, SETI@home, genome analysis. - **Multimedia and entertainment:** video on demand, online games. - **Air/railway reservation, e-governance and sensor/IoT networks.** #### Advantages - **Economics:** many cheap computers give a better price/performance ratio than one mainframe. - **Performance and speed:** work is shared among processors (parallel processing, load balancing). - **Inherent distribution:** applications such as banking, e-mail and the web are naturally spread over many places. - **Reliability and availability:** if one machine fails the others continue, particularly with replication. - **Resource sharing:** hardware, software and data are shared by remote users. - **Incremental growth (scalability):** capacity is added by adding machines. - **Flexibility and openness:** parts from different vendors can be combined. #### Disadvantages - **Complexity:** design, development and debugging are harder than for a single machine. - **Software:** little general-purpose distributed software exists; middleware adds overhead. - **Network problems:** the network may be slow, saturated or fail, and lost messages hurt the system. - **Security:** open networks and shared resources raise the risk of attacks and data leakage. - **Partial failure:** parts fail independently, so the state is hard to know and keep consistent. - **No global clock or shared memory:** synchronisation and agreement are difficult. - **Higher management cost:** many machines need to be administered, upgraded and kept consistent. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which is a principal application of distributed systems? A. ATM networks and online banking B. A single-user word processor on a laptop C. A calculator program D. A standalone game with no network Answer: A. Banking, web, cloud, telecom and grid computing are typical distributed applications. (Key point: Applications) 2. Which example is scientific/grid computing? A. Gmail only B. SETI@home and weather forecasting C. A local printer driver D. A spreadsheet macro Answer: B. Large scientific problems use grid-style distributed computing. (Key point: Grid application) 3. What does 'inherent distribution' as an advantage mean? A. Applications must be run on one machine B. Applications cannot use a network C. Applications such as banking, e-mail and the web are naturally spread over places D. Data is always kept at a single site Answer: C. Some applications are naturally geographically spread, which suits a distributed system. (Key point: Inherent distribution) 4. Which is a disadvantage of a distributed system? A. Lower complexity than a single machine B. Plenty of general-purpose distributed software C. No security risks D. Higher management cost, since many machines must be administered, upgraded and kept consistent Answer: D. More machines mean more administration and consistency maintenance. 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