Challenges in Distributed Systems: Master the Complexities

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental challenge faced by distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Centralization

Answer

Concurrency

Answer

Consistency

Answer

Security

Question 2

What is the primary concept behind the CAP theorem?

Accepted Answer

In a distributed system, it is impossible to simultaneously guarantee all of consistency, availability, and partition tolerance.

Answer

Distributed systems should be designed with a focus on scalability and performance.

Answer

Data consistency can be sacrificed to improve system availability.

Answer

Fault tolerance is the most important consideration in distributed system design.

Question 3

What is the main difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Synchronous communication guarantees that messages are delivered in the order they were sent, while asynchronous communication does not.

Answer

Asynchronous communication guarantees that messages are delivered in the order they were sent, while synchronous communication does not.

Answer

Synchronous communication is more efficient than asynchronous communication.

Answer

Asynchronous communication is more reliable than synchronous communication.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of a distributed consensus algorithm?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that all nodes in a distributed system agree on a single value.

Answer

To detect and recover from failures in a distributed system.

Answer

To manage the distribution of data in a distributed system.

Answer

To schedule tasks in a distributed system.

Question 5

What is the primary objective of a distributed transaction?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that a series of operations is executed as a single, indivisible unit across multiple nodes in a distributed system.

Answer

To manage the distribution of data in a distributed system.

Answer

To schedule tasks in a distributed system.

Answer

To detect and recover from failures in a distributed system.

Question 6

Which of the following protocols is commonly used for reliable message delivery in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

TCP

Answer

UDP

Answer

HTTP

Answer

FTP

Question 7

What is the purpose of a distributed lock manager?

Accepted Answer

To prevent multiple processes from accessing the same resource simultaneously

Answer

To ensure consistency of data across multiple nodes

Answer

To detect and recover from failed processes

Answer

To provide authentication and authorization for accessing resources

Question 8

What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Synchronous communication blocks the caller until a response is received, while asynchronous communication does not.

Answer

Asynchronous communication is more efficient than synchronous communication.

Answer

Synchronous communication is more secure than asynchronous communication.

Answer

There is no difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication in distributed systems.

Question 9

How does the CAP theorem guide the design of distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

It provides a framework for understanding the trade-offs between consistency, availability, and partition tolerance.

Answer

It enforces a choice between consistency and availability for all distributed systems.

Answer

It allows distributed systems to achieve all three properties (Consistency, Availability, and Partition tolerance) simultaneously.

Answer

It has no relevance to the design and implementation of distributed systems.

Question 10

In distributed systems, which technique is primarily used to enhance performance rather than ensuring fault tolerance?

Accepted Answer

Load Balancing

Answer

Replication

Answer

Redundancy

Question 11

Which of the following techniques is employed to enhance fault tolerance in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Replication

Answer

Load balancing

Answer

Checksumming

Answer

Data migration

Question 12

What is the function of a distributed hash table (DHT) in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To store key-value pairs across multiple nodes

Answer

To provide load balancing for distributed applications

Answer

To ensure data consistency in a distributed database

Answer

To handle network failures and maintain availability

Question 13

What is the primary purpose of using a distributed consensus algorithm in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that all nodes agree on a common state

Answer

To improve the performance of distributed applications

Answer

To handle network partitions and maintain availability

Answer

To provide data confidentiality and integrity

Question 14

What is the primary distinction between synchronous and asynchronous distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Synchronous systems guarantee message delivery, while asynchronous systems do not

Answer

Synchronous systems require a central coordinator, while asynchronous systems do not

Answer

Synchronous systems are more scalable than asynchronous systems

Answer

Asynchronous systems are more fault-tolerant than synchronous systems

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of using ZooKeeper in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To manage configuration and coordination of services

Answer

To provide a distributed file system

Answer

To implement a distributed consensus algorithm

Answer

To handle network failures and maintain availability

Question 16

Which of the following techniques is NOT used to handle node failures in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Rollback

Answer

Replication

Answer

Heartbeats

Answer

Leader election

Question 17

What is the purpose of a distributed lock manager?

Accepted Answer

To ensure exclusive access to shared resources

Answer

To prevent deadlocks

Answer

To coordinate distributed transactions

Answer

To enforce access control

Question 18

In a distributed system, which consistency model ensures that all copies of a data item maintain identical values at all times, maximizing data integrity?

Accepted Answer

Strong consistency

Answer

Weak consistency

Answer

Eventual consistency

Question 19

What is the primary function of a distributed lock manager?

Accepted Answer

To ensure exclusive access to shared resources

Answer

To enhance system performance

Answer

To detect and recover from network partitions

Question 20

What is a key purpose of a distributed hash table (DHT)?

Accepted Answer

To facilitate distributed storage and retrieval of data

Answer

To enhance system performance

Answer

To detect and recover from network partitions

Question 21

How do synchronous and asynchronous replication differ in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Synchronous replication ensures all replicas acknowledge a write before responding to the client, unlike asynchronous replication

Answer

Asynchronous replication ensures all replicas acknowledge a write before responding to the client, unlike synchronous replication

Answer

Synchronous replication is more efficient than asynchronous replication

Answer

Asynchronous replication is more reliable than synchronous replication

Question 22

In distributed systems, how does the Raft consensus algorithm ensure data integrity when network partitions occur?

Accepted Answer

Selects a leader to coordinate updates, maintaining a single source of truth

Answer

Replicates data across multiple servers for redundancy

Answer

Uses a distributed lock manager to prevent concurrent access

Answer

Rolls back updates during network partitions to prevent data loss

Question 23

In a distributed database system, which consistency model ensures that all operations appear to be executed in a single, sequential order, providing the highest level of consistency?

Accepted Answer

Linearizability

Answer

Eventual consistency

Answer

Read-your-own-writes

Question 24

In the context of distributed systems, which of the following poses a significant security concern that requires attention?

Accepted Answer

Vulnerability to unauthorized access

Answer

Increased system availability

Answer

Enhanced data consistency

Answer

Reduced fault tolerance

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a common challenge encountered in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Centralized data management

Answer

Consistency

Answer

Concurrency

Answer

Fault tolerance

Question 26

Which of the following techniques is primarily used to ensure consistency in distributed systems, guaranteeing that all nodes have an identical copy of the data?

Accepted Answer

Replication

Answer

Quorum-based consensus

Answer

Eventual consistency

Question 27

Which of the following fault tolerance techniques involves replicating critical system components across multiple nodes?

Accepted Answer

Replication

Answer

Load balancing

Answer

Checkpointing

Answer

Recovery

Question 28

What is a fundamental distinction between synchronous and asynchronous communication in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Guaranteed message delivery in synchronous communication

Answer

Higher latency in asynchronous communication

Answer

Ordering of messages in asynchronous communication

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT a strategy for managing concurrency in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Blocking

Answer

Mutual exclusion

Answer

Timestamp ordering

Answer

Lock-free data structures

Question 30

Which of the following is **NOT** a fundamental challenge commonly encountered in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Single point of failure

Answer

Fault tolerance

Answer

Scalability

Answer

Concurrency

Question 31

In distributed systems, concurrency refers to the ability of multiple processes to access and modify data concurrently. What is the primary concern associated with concurrency?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring that multiple processes can access and modify data without conflicts.

Answer

Maintaining a consistent shared state across multiple nodes.

Answer

Preventing data loss in the event of a system failure.

Question 32

Which of the following techniques is commonly employed to achieve consistency in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Replication

Answer

Fault tolerance protocols

Answer

Deadlock detection

Question 33

Fault tolerance is a crucial aspect of distributed systems. What is the main objective of a fault tolerance protocol?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that the system can continue operating even in the presence of component failures.

Answer

To prevent data loss in the event of a system failure.

Answer

To detect and recover from deadlocks.

Question 34

Distributed systems often face various security threats. Which of the following is a common threat to their security?

Accepted Answer

Malware attacks

Answer

Data corruption

Answer

Scalability issues

Answer

Deadlocks

Question 35

One of the key advantages of utilizing a distributed system architecture is:

Accepted Answer

Increased scalability

Answer

Improved performance

Answer

Enhanced security

Answer

Reduced cost

Question 36

In a distributed system, a distributed transaction manager serves a crucial purpose. What is its primary role?

Accepted Answer

To coordinate transactions across multiple nodes, ensuring data integrity and consistency.

Answer

To detect and recover from deadlocks.

Answer

To ensure data consistency.

Answer

To prevent security breaches.

Question 37

Which algorithm is commonly used to achieve consensus in a distributed system, ensuring all nodes agree on a single value even with potential failures?

Accepted Answer

Paxos

Answer

Bellman-Ford algorithm

Answer

Floyd-Warshall algorithm

Answer

Dijkstra's algorithm

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT typically considered a core challenge in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Data Encryption

Answer

Concurrency Control

Answer

Fault Tolerance

Answer

Data Consistency

Question 39

The 'Byzantine Generals' problem in distributed systems primarily illustrates the challenge of:

Accepted Answer

Fault Tolerance

Answer

Scalability

Answer

Concurrency Control

Answer

Data Consistency

Question 40

You need to design a system that ensures all nodes have an identical view of data, even if network partitions occur. Which consistency model is best suited for this requirement?

Accepted Answer

Strong Consistency

Answer

Causal Consistency

Answer

Monotonic Read Consistency

Answer

Eventual Consistency

Question 41

The primary goal of employing distributed consensus algorithms like Paxos or Raft is to:

Accepted Answer

Achieve fault tolerance in distributed systems by ensuring agreement despite failures.

Answer

Optimize network communication efficiency.

Answer

Manage concurrent access to shared resources.

Answer

Ensure data integrity in distributed databases.

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT a common technique used to address concurrency issues in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Data Replication

Answer

Locking Mechanisms

Answer

Optimistic Concurrency Control

Answer

Transaction Isolation

Question 43

What is the key difference between a centralized and a distributed system in terms of security?

Accepted Answer

Distributed systems have a larger attack surface, making them potentially more vulnerable to security threats.

Answer

Centralized systems are more prone to single points of failure.

Answer

Distributed systems inherently offer better data privacy.

Question 44

You are designing a system that must handle an increasing workload without significant performance degradation. Which core challenge must you prioritize addressing?

Accepted Answer

Scalability

Answer

Fault Tolerance

Answer

Data Consistency

Question 45

Which approach is NOT commonly used to achieve fault tolerance in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Centralized Data Storage

Answer

Error Detection and Recovery Mechanisms

Answer

Replication of Data and Processes

Answer

Redundant Components

Question 46

What is a primary concern when using a distributed hash table (DHT) for data storage in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining data consistency across all distributed nodes, ensuring data integrity.

Answer

Handling network latency for data access.

Answer

Ensuring efficient data encryption.

Question 47

Which of the following is a major challenge in distributed systems related to ensuring that data remains consistent across multiple nodes?

Accepted Answer

Data Consistency

Answer

Fault Tolerance

Answer

Concurrency

Answer

Security

Question 48

What approach is commonly used to handle concurrent access to shared resources in distributed systems, preventing race conditions?

Accepted Answer

Locking

Answer

Replication

Answer

Timestamping

Answer

Sharding

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT a common technique for achieving fault tolerance in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Load Balancing

Answer

Checkpointing

Answer

Failover

Answer

Replication

Question 50

Which distributed computing model involves distributing tasks across multiple nodes in a decentralized manner?

Accepted Answer

Peer-to-peer

Answer

Cloud-based

Answer

Client-server

Question 51

What is a key design consideration for ensuring the reliability of distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Fault Tolerance

Answer

Scalability

Answer

Security

Answer

Performance