Distributed Computing – Unit 3 – Review Questions

Batch A

1. What is a process? Explain the role of the Memory Management Unit (MMU) and the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) in concurrency transparency.
2. Define a thread context. How does it differ from a process context?
3. What is the major drawback of a single-threaded process?
4. Discuss context switching with IPC mechanisms.
5. Write a short note on Light Weight Processes.
6. Discuss the different approaches to construct multi-threaded servers.
7. Write a short note on the X-Window System.
8. What is a compound document? Explain in brief.
9. Discuss the mechanism for achieving distribution transparency via client-side software.
10. Define the following terms:
    1. iterative server
    2. concurrent server
    3. endpoint
    4. port
    5. superserver
    6. out-of-band data
    7. stateless server
    8. stateful server
    9. daemon
    10. cookie
11. What is an object server? Explain object wrapper mechanisms.
12. What is code migration? Why is it important?
13. Discuss the different models for code migration.
14. Discuss the implications of code migration on the resource segment.
15. What are the issues encountered in code migration in heterogeneous systems?
16. Write a short note on D’Agents.
17. Discuss implementation issues for D’Agents.
18. Write a short note on the FIPA model.
19. What is a software agent? Elaborate on the different types of software agents in distributed systems.
20. Explain the general model of an agent platform.
21. Write a short note on Agent Communication Languages.

Batch B

1. With the information provided, compare reading a file using a single-threaded file server and a multithreaded server: It takes 15 msec to receive a request for work, dispatch and process it. Assume that the data needed is in a cache in main memory. If a disk operation is needed one-third of the time, the thread sleeps during the additional 75 msec which is required. How many requests/sec can the server handle in both cases?
2. It is prudent to limit the number of threads in a server process. Support or refute this statement.
3. It is not recommended to statically associate a single thread with a LWP. Why?
4. Is there any benefit to having a single LWP per process? Why? Why not?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing a concurrent server by spawning a process?
6. What is an object adapter?
7. Discuss the design issues for an object adapter for persistent storage.
8. Is a server that maintains a TCP/IP connection to a client stateful or stateless.
9. Discuss code migration with reference to Java RMI.
10. Compare the architecture of D’Agents with that of an agent platform in the FIPA model.
11. What is an Agent Communication Language (ACL)? What is its role in the OSI model?

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