Section A — 1 Mark Questions
1. Define client-server computing. [1 Mark]
Answer: It is an architecture where a central server provides resources or services to multiple client devices.
2. What is the primary focus of peer-to-peer computing? [1 Mark]
Answer: Decentralized interaction where each node acts as both a client and a server.
3. Define distributed computing. [1 Mark]
Answer: A system where components located on networked computers communicate and coordinate their actions by passing messages.
4. What is grid computing? [1 Mark]
Answer: A form of distributed computing that involves coordinating geographically distributed resources to solve complex problems.
5. Define collaborative computing. [1 Mark]
Answer: Systems designed to facilitate group work and document sharing among multiple users in real-time.
6. What is cloud computing? [1 Mark]
Answer: The on-demand delivery of computing services, including servers, storage, and databases, over the internet.
7. Name the core entity that provides services in a client-server model. [1 Mark]
Answer: The server.
8. What distinguishes cloud computing from traditional local computing? [1 Mark]
Answer: Resources are accessed over the internet rather than local hardware.
9. In P2P, what is the role of a node? [1 Mark]
Answer: A node serves as both a client and a server.
10. What is the main advantage of distributed systems? [1 Mark]
Answer: Increased reliability and resource sharing.
11. Does cloud computing rely on virtualization? [1 Mark]
Answer: Yes, it commonly uses virtualization to manage resources.
12. What is a common application of grid computing? [1 Mark]
Answer: Processing large-scale scientific simulations.
13. Which architecture is the predecessor to modern cloud computing? [1 Mark]
Answer: Distributed computing.
14. True or False: Cloud computing is always public. [1 Mark]
Answer: False, it can be public, private, or hybrid.
15. What is meant by on-demand in cloud services? [1 Mark]
Answer: Users can access resources instantly as needed without manual provisioning.
16. What is a limitation of client-server systems? [1 Mark]
Answer: They are vulnerable to single points of failure if the central server goes down.
17. What is the purpose of collaborative tools in cloud systems? [1 Mark]
Answer: Enabling multiple users to edit and share data simultaneously.
18. What is the key driver for moving to cloud-based databases? [1 Mark]
Answer: Scalability and cost-efficiency.
19. Does distributed computing require a centralized controller? [1 Mark]
Answer: Not necessarily, it functions through networked coordination.
20. What role does the internet play in cloud computing? [1 Mark]
Answer: It acts as the delivery medium for computing resources.
Section B — 2/3 Mark Questions
1. Explain the basic working principle of client-server computing. [2 Marks]
Answer: The model functions through a request-response loop. The client sends a request to the server, and the server processes the request and sends the data back to the client.
2. List two benefits of peer-to-peer computing. [2 Marks]
Answer: 1) Elimination of single points of failure. 2) Scalability, as each new node adds resources to the system.
3. Distinguish between distributed computing and grid computing. [3 Marks]
Answer: Distributed computing is a broad category where tasks are spread across multiple computers. Grid computing is a specific, high-end subset focused on aggregating vast, geographically dispersed computational power to handle massive, complex research tasks.
4. What are the main characteristics of cloud computing? [2 Marks]
Answer: Key characteristics include on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, and rapid elasticity.
5. Why is collaborative computing important in the modern workplace? [3 Marks]
Answer: It allows teams to work together in real-time, reduces time-to-market for projects, and ensures that everyone accesses the most up-to-date information, thereby improving team efficiency and consistency.
6. Briefly describe the concept of resource pooling in cloud computing. [2 Marks]
Answer: Cloud providers group physical or virtual resources to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, allowing resources to be dynamically assigned based on demand.
7. Explain the difference between private and public clouds. [3 Marks]
Answer: A public cloud provides services over the public internet to anyone, while a private cloud is dedicated to a single organization, providing enhanced security and control over infrastructure.
8. How does grid computing achieve high performance? [2 Marks]
Answer: It connects thousands of disparate computers to work on a single goal, effectively creating a virtual supercomputer by parallelizing complex calculations.
9. State two challenges of distributed computing. [2 Marks]
Answer: 1) Complexity in synchronization and communication. 2) Security risks associated with data traversing over various nodes.
10. How has the history of computing evolved towards the cloud? [3 Marks]
Answer: Computing moved from centralized mainframes to client-server models, then to distributed and grid systems, eventually maturing into cloud computing, which simplifies infrastructure management by abstracting hardware complexities.
Section C — 5 Mark Questions
1. Elaborate on the differences between distributed computing and cloud computing. [5 Marks]
Explanation
While both paradigms involve networked resources, their goals and implementation differ significantly.
- Focus: Distributed computing focuses on the software architecture where tasks are partitioned across multiple machines. Cloud computing focuses on the business model of service delivery, emphasizing utility and on-demand access.
- Transparency: In distributed computing, the user is often aware of the distributed nature of the system. In cloud computing, the infrastructure is abstracted; the user views the system as a unified pool of resources.
- Scalability: Cloud computing offers elastic, automated scaling based on immediate needs. Distributed systems may require manual or semi-automated configuration to scale.
- Management: Cloud providers manage the underlying hardware and software layers, whereas distributed systems often require the organization to manage the nodes directly.
2. Describe the structure and working mechanism of the Client-Server model. [5 Marks]
Introduction
The client-server model is a distributed application structure that partitions tasks between the providers of a resource or service, called servers, and service requesters, called clients.
Working Mechanism
- Request Phase: A client initiates communication by sending a service request to the server through a network.
- Processing Phase: The server receives the request, authenticates the client, and performs the necessary logic, such as database queries or computations.
- Response Phase: Once finished, the server sends a response back to the client, such as a requested file, database record, or success message.
Key Characteristics
The model relies on a central management system. This provides a clear separation of concerns (the client handles UI/UX while the server handles storage/computation), though it creates a single point of failure if the server is unreachable.
3. Discuss the evolution of computing from early distributed systems to modern cloud computing. [5 Marks]
Historical Progression
The path to modern cloud computing involved several key technological milestones.
- Client-Server Era: Enabled the separation of frontend and backend systems, improving organization.
- Distributed Computing: Allowed multiple independent computers to work together, forming the foundation for large-scale data processing.
- Grid Computing: Leveraged the idle power of distributed systems to create virtual supercomputers for scientific research.
- Collaborative Computing: Introduced real-time sharing and versioning, which is now a standard feature in cloud SaaS applications.
- Cloud Computing: Integrated these concepts into a commercial service model where virtualization allows for seamless, scalable, and cost-effective delivery of resources.
The progression reflects an ongoing shift from managing hardware to consuming services as utilities.
4. Explain the role of Virtualization in Cloud Computing. [5 Marks]
Definition
Virtualization is the process of creating a software-based (virtual) representation of something, such as servers, storage, or networks.
Role and Significance
- Resource Pooling: It enables physical hardware to be partitioned into multiple virtual machines (VMs), allowing providers to maximize server utilization.
- Isolation: Each virtual instance is isolated from others on the same hardware, ensuring security and stability for multi-tenant users.
- Elasticity: Virtualization allows cloud systems to create, move, or destroy instances almost instantly, which is the core driver of cloud scalability.
- Independence: It allows users to run different operating systems and applications on the same physical server, providing flexibility.
Virtualization is essentially the engine that allows cloud computing to offer scalable, reliable, and on-demand services.
5. Discuss the advantages of migrating to a Cloud-based Database system. [5 Marks]
Introduction
Moving databases to the cloud allows organizations to move away from local hardware maintenance to a managed service environment.
Advantages
- Cost Efficiency: Eliminates the need for expensive physical server purchases and maintenance; typically follows a pay-as-you-go model.
- Scalability: Resources such as storage capacity and processing power can be scaled up or down based on data volume, without downtime.
- Accessibility: Data becomes globally accessible, facilitating collaborative computing and distributed workflows.
- High Availability and Backup: Cloud providers offer automated backups, redundancy, and high-uptime guarantees that are difficult to replicate in local environments.
- Automatic Maintenance: Security patching, software updates, and hardware monitoring are handled by the cloud provider, allowing IT teams to focus on data strategy rather than maintenance.