Design Considerations for a Distributed Data Access System.
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed the emergence of a new structure for computer systems--the distributed computer network. Several complete computers (CPU, primary storage, secondary storage and operating software) are linked via electronic communication lines to provide a single resource. That is users of one machine in the network (node) can access facilities at another node. Networks are motivated by desires to provide resource sharing (CPU-time, storage space, software, data,...), to improve reliability, and to take advantage of savings in communications costs. The chief focus of network research to date has been the communications subsystem. Existing telephone system facilities are inadequate because they cannot provide adequate bandwidth and reliability unless each node of the network has one or more direct broadband (say, 50 kilo bits/second). links to each other node. Progress has been made in the area of computer communications, but general software systems for networks have not been studied. The work considers the issues of designing a network software system. In particular, it is argued that the most urgent requirement is to develop a mechanism for data sharing. (Modified author abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0775569
Entities
People
- Richard W. Peebles