Question NO 1

Distributed Database Management System (DDBMS):

  A Distributed Database
Management System (DDBMS) consists of a single logical database that is split into a number of
fragments. A major motivation behind the development of database systems is the desire to
integrate the operational data of an organization and to provide controlled access to the data.

The motivation in providing such a system:

Distributed Database Management System (DDBMS)
is the software system that permits the management of the distributed database and makes the
distribution transparent to users. A Distributed Database Management System (DDBMS)
consists of a single logical database that is split into a number of fragments. Each fragment is
stored on one or more computers under the control of a separate DBMS, with the computers
connected by a communications network. Each site is capable of independently processing user
requests that require access to local data (that is, each site has some degree of local autonomy)
and is also capable of processing data stored on other computers in the network. Users access the
distributed database via applications, which are classified as those that do not require data from
other sites (local applications) and those that do require Data from other sites (global
applications). We require a DDBMS to have at least one global application.

A DDBMS therefore has the following characteristics:

1) A collection of logically related shared data.

2) The data is split into a number of fragments.
3) fragments may be replicated.
4) The DBMS at each site can handle local applications, autonomously.
5) Each DBMS participates in at least one global application.
A major motivation behind the development of database systems is the desire to
integrate the operational data of an organization and to provide controlled access to
the data Although integration and controlled access may imply centralization, this
is not the intention. In fact, the development of computer networks promotes a
decentralized mode of work. This decentralized approach mirrors the
organizational structure of many companies which are logically distributed into
divisions, departments, projects, and so on, and physically distributed into offices,
plants, factories, where each unit maintains its own operational data (Date, 2000).
The share ability of the data and the efficiency of data access should be improved
by the development of a distributed database system that reflects this
organizational structure, makes the data in all units accessible, and stores data
proximate to the location where it is most frequently used. Distributed DBMSs
should help resolve the is lands of information problem Databases are sometimes
regarded as electronic islands that are distinct and generally, like remote islands.
This may be a result of geographical separation, in compatible computer
architectures, incompatible communication protocols, and so on. Integrating the
databases into a logical whole may prevent this way of thinking.
QUSTION NO 2

Compare and contrast a DDBMS with distributed processing Under

what circumstances would you choose a DDBMS over distributed
processing?
A Distributed DBMS is a system that consists of data that is physically distributed
across a number of sites in the network. If the data is centralized even though other
users may be accessing the data over the network, we do not consider this to be a
distributed DMBS but simply a distributed processing.

Suppose a company has different divisions all over and each division controls its
own data which means they have their own databases. This would be more
efficient than having all the divisions accessing a centralized database and
updating/changing their data.

QUESTION NO 3

Compare and contrast a DDBMS with a parallel DBMS. Under

what circumstances would you choose a DDBMS over a parallel
DBMS?

Difference Between DDBMS and Parallel DBMS:

The main difference between distributed and parallel database is that the
distributed database is a system that manages multiple logically interrelated
databases distributed across a network, while the parallel database is a system in
which multiple processors execute and run queries simultaneously.

A database is an essential storage unit for every business organization. It is a

collection of data in an organized manner. There are various types of databases.
Distributed and parallel databases are two types of databases. Generally, a parallel
database is faster than a distributed database.

Parallel DBMS is a DBMS running across multiple processors and disks

that is designed to execute operations in parallel, whenever possible, in order to
improve performance while there is no parallel execution of database (using
multiple processors) in DDBMS. Parallel DBMS is generally used for very large
databases possibly of the order of terabytes, or systems that have to process
thousands of transactions per second. Parallel DBMS improves performance
through parallelizing various operations: loading data, indexing, query evaluation.
Data may be distributed, but purely for performance reasons. In parallel database
system, parallelization of operations is performed for enhancing the performance
of the architecture. In real time, there are situations where centralized systems are
not enough flexible to handle some applications like in fluid mechanics. The
architectures related to Parallel DBMS.