Write differentiate between centralized and distributed database systems.

 

Centralized Database System:

1. Single Location: In a centralized database system, all data is stored and managed at a single location or server.

2. Control: A single authority or entity has control over the entire database system, including data access, security, and management.

3. Data Access: Users access the database through a single point, typically via a client-server architecture.

4. Data Consistency: Ensuring data consistency is relatively easier in a centralized system since there is only one copy of the data.

5. Performance: Performance may be optimal for local users accessing the database, but it can degrade for remote users due to network latency.

6. Scalability: Scalability may be limited as the system needs to handle all data processing and transactions from a single location.

7. Reliability: Centralized systems may have a single point of failure, which can lead to downtime and data loss.

Distributed Database System:

1. Multiple Locations: In a distributed database system, data is distributed across multiple locations or servers, often in different geographical locations.

2. Decentralized Control: Control over the database system is distributed among multiple authorities or entities, with each managing its own portion of the database.

3. Data Access: Users can access the database from multiple locations, and data access may involve communication between different servers.

4. Data Consistency: Ensuring data consistency is more challenging in a distributed system due to the need to synchronize data across multiple locations.

5. Performance: Performance may vary depending on factors such as network latency and the location of data compared to the user.

6. Scalability: Distributed systems can be more scalable as the workload can be distributed across multiple servers, allowing for better resource utilization and handling of larger volumes of data.

7. Reliability: Distributed systems can be more resilient to failures since there is no single point of failure, and data redundancy and replication can be implemented to ensure data availability.

In summary, centralized database systems store and manage all data at a single location, offering simpler control and data consistency but limited scalability and potential single points of failure. Distributed database systems distribute data across multiple locations, offering greater scalability and reliability but posing challenges in data consistency and coordination among distributed components.