Distributed computing

Distributed applications can be relatively simple, requiring a single client computer and a single server, or more complex, allowing many client computers and several servers. For example, web browsers are distributed applications.

As the internet changed from IPv4 to IPv6, distributed systems have evolved from “LAN” based to “Internet” based. Telephone and cellular networks are also examples of distributed networks. Telephone networks have been around for over a century and it started as an early example of a peer to peer network.

The Internet is the most widely known example of a distributed system. The Internet facilitates the connection of many different computer systems in different geographical locations to share information and resources.

A distributed network is a type of computer network that is spread over different networks . This provides a single data communication network, which can be managed jointly or separately by each network.

Communication between processes and objects in a distributed system is performed by message passing . through request and reply messages. The system is structured as a group of processes (objects), called servers, that deliver services to clients.

Distributed computing (or distributed processing) is the technique of linking together multiple computer servers over a network into a cluster, to share data and to coordinate processing power .

A distribution channel represents a chain of businesses or intermediaries through which the final buyer purchases a good or service . Distribution channels include wholesalers, retailers, distributors, and the Internet.