CS 561   Spring 2007.

CS561 "HOMEWORK" #9

Assigned: Thursday, Mar 29, 2007
Due: Thursday, April 5, 2007

To do:

• Read the assigned readings on distributed query processing (ACM Survey paper) and on parallel and distributed databases (book chapter). They are long readings, so your primary focus should be first on the former and a little less on the later. I have handed out copies in class. Oone is from the CS542 textbook, and the other, the ACM Survey paper, is also linked into our course webpage.

• Prepare a written report on the two readings to be turned in in the next class meeting. The goal is to tease out some of the main points from the assigned readings.

• Topics to consider in your critique include:
  • Describe several algorithms for processing queries in distributed systems, with emphasis on expensive queries such as joins across such systems. What are the key ideas compared to centralized join algorithms?
  • Outline techniques for performance optimization in distributed database systems, such as the application of caching, replication, etc.
  • Characterize the difference between parallel database systems and distributed database systems, including query processing within such systems.
  • Briefly describe the different types of distributed architectures discussed in your readings. Sketch the most important techniques proposed in these systems, include query processing issues. Focus on differences, if any, that are specific to these architectures.
  • Lastly, please postulate which, if any, of the techniques that have been utilized for the processing of queries in distributed static databases may also be applicable for distributed processing of stream monitoring queries. Or, vice versa, do you have any thoughts on what, if any, issues may be different for stream processing compared to relational query processing in large-scale networked systems. This clearly is an open-ended question for which no one correct answer exists.