Distributed Database Architecture
Distributed databases are used to store and manage data across a network of interconnected computers. They ensure data consistency, availability, and fault tolerance across multiple locations.
Contents
- Nodes
- Data Distribution
- Query Processing
- Consistency and Coordination
- Transaction Management
- Networking
- Monitoring and Management
- Real-World Applications
Nodes
- Data Centers: May contain multiple racks of servers and storage devices.
- Clusters: Groups of servers that work together.
- Servers: Individual physical or virtual machines.
Data Distribution
- Sharding: Divides data into smaller chunks and distributes across nodes.
- Replication: Keeps multiple copies of data in sync.
Query Processing
- Query Router: Directs queries to the appropriate nodes.
- Query Executors: Execute queries on individual nodes.
- Aggregator: Combines results into a final result set.
Consistency and Coordination
- Consensus Protocols: Ensure nodes agree on the data state.
- Synchronization Services: Provide coordination among nodes.
- Consistency Models: Different consistency guarantees.
Transaction Management
- Two-Phase Commit: Ensures accurate transaction processing.
- Distributed Lock Manager: Manages locks on data across different nodes.
Networking
- Load Balancers: Distribute client requests among different nodes.
- Networking Protocols: Underlying communication between nodes.
Monitoring and Management
- Monitoring Tools: Track the system’s performance.
- Management Console: Centralized interface for administrative tasks.
Real-World Applications
Netflix
Netflix uses Apache Cassandra as a distributed database to handle its extensive catalog and customer activity. Cassandra’s ability to scale horizontally and provide high availability makes it suitable for serving millions of global users.
Uber
Uber relies on distributed databases like Schemaless and CockroachDB for managing geolocation data, ride-hailing requests, and other real-time operations. These databases’ resilience and low-latency response times are critical for Uber’s global service.