A computer’s operating system (OS) is one of the most important aspects of a computer. It is responsible for managing the underlying tasks and orchestrating the computer programs. A distributed operating system is a system that spreads the load across multiple computer hardware servers. This type of operating system offers better performance and availability because it is spread over multiple components.
Multiple systems perform a task at a specific location during grid computing, an example of distributed computing.
Most operating systems are available in distributed versions. Some examples include UNIX®, Linux®, and the Windows® operating system. When the operating system is distributed, it must be installed on multiple servers, which requires special configuration and administration processes. This typically requires systems engineers to manage the project.
The operating system of a computer is one of its most important aspects.
A distributed operating system is configured as a group of servers that share memory and tasks. These servers work in unison and provide more power than a single large server. This generally results in better performance because the load is spread across multiple servers.
Grid computing is a good example of distributed computing. This system uses computers connected to the Internet to perform complex tasks that require a lot of processing power. Using a distributed model takes advantage of idle computer capacity because it shares multiple servers.
Computing capacity is known as the maximum available processing power of a computer system. It is normally calculated based on the available memory and the computer processing units of the hardware platform. A distributed system offers additional capacity because it includes multiple servers.
There are specific algorithms that are used for a distributed operating system to handle task management. This layout is designed to process individual jobs on multiple servers based on priority and expected processing time. These algorithms vary in complexity, but are designed to take full advantage of the available processing power of shared servers.
A round robin algorithm is an example of a simple algorithm used in a distributed operating system. This technique distributes input tasks from the computer to multiple servers based on a simple counting algorithm. Each task is assigned a specific number that corresponds to a specific server within the chain of available servers.
Some models of distributed operating systems monitor the available capacity of each server in the chain. This generally provides better performance than simple round-robin techniques because the server load is based on the actual processing power available. Advanced algorithms are more common in sophisticated multiprocessing operating systems.
