DistOS Midterm Review Fall 2017

Audio from the review session.

Potential Midterm questions

Anything from the Winter 2015 midterm is possible...

1. Describe three strategies used to increase scalability in distributed operating systems. Give and explain specific examples of each.
2. _____________ is the solution to what problem? How does it attempt solve that problem? And how effective does the solution appear to be? Answer for at least two filesystems discussed in class.
3. “UNIX compatibility is sacrificed in order to improve scalability.” Argue for or against, using specific examples discussed in class.
4. How much do modern systems follow the template of "Resource Sharing Computer Communications Networks"? How are things the same? How do they differ?
5. To what extent does the work we have discussed in class follow Doug Englebart's vision?
6. To what extent did early efforts in distributed operating systems succeed? And, when they failed why did they fail?
7. Compare and contrast Oceanstore and Farsite. What are their key similarities and differences?
8. Why are we all using variants of UNIX rather than Plan 9? Make reference to specific commonalities and differences between the systems as well as their respective development paths. Was it a question of technology, context, or both?