KOLEJ TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN v 8 SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCE a ACADEMIC YEAR 2007/2008 JANUARY/ FEBRUARY EXAMINATION COMPUTER SCIENCE AACSS164(A) istributed Computer Systems FRIDAY, 25 JANUARY 2008 TIME: 2.00 PM - 4.00 PM (2 HOURS) ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN SCIENCE (INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND MICROELECTRONICS WITH COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS) YEAR II Instructions to Candidates: Answer ALL questions. All questions carry equal marks, s ‘This question paper consists of 4 questions on 3 printed pages2 AACS5164 (A) DISTRIBUTED COMPUTER SYSTEMS QI. (@) Compare the TWO @) primary distributed computing models that are commonly used in a distributed environment. (4 marks) (b) Discuss the network characteristics that affect distributed real time applications. (8 marks) (c) In distributed and parallel environments, processes are allowed to run mulpie threads of execution. (Compare the THREE (3) multithreaded process paradigms, Inclide diagrams in your answer. (6 marks) (i) In your opinion, which multithreaded process paradigm is. most appropriate to be applied in verifying the identity of a service tser? 4 Tustify your answer. (G marks) (@ There are two types of real time systems: reactive and embedded. Differentiate and provide an example for each of them. (4 marks) © [Total: 25 marks] 2. (@ Name and discuss TWO (2) common difficulties that one encounters while attempting to synchronize physical clocks in a distributed operating systems.” (4 marks) (©) A computer clock which reads 11:07:34 (where the time format Xs hours vainutes: seconds) is informed by a Universal time coordinator (UTC) that the current time is 11:07:26. () What is the adjustment to be carried out to synchronize the computer | clock time with the UTC time? (2 marks) (i) Describe one adjustment that cannot be made along with, # ‘motivating reason. (2 marks) (©) Asemaphore is a type ie integer variable whose value indicates the status of. the protected resource. Evaluate the semaphore against the three-point test in ‘mutual exclusion. (9 marks) @ A possible side effect of mutual exclusion is deadlock. Propose FOUR @ solutions to prevent deadlocks. (8 marks) [Total: 25 marks] “This question paper consists of 4 questions on 3 printed pages3 AACS5164 (A) DISTRIBUTED COMPUTER SYST iS Q3. (@) As security threat is always a concem in distributed environments, authentication is needed to ensure a system’s security. Discuss any TWO (2) areas of concern when incorporating authentication in a distributed environment, (4 marks) (6) Consider a typical banking operation, moving RM1000 from your savings account to your current account. This seems like a single operation to the user but in fact consists of two: debiting the savings account by RMI000 and crediting the current account by RM1000. If the debit operation succeeded and the credit did not, the RM1000 would disappear. Suggest a solution that will ensure the above-mentioned achieves its desire result. (8 marks) (©) In the world of computers, a form of inter-process communication is used to form one end of a bi-directional communication link between two ' applications, likely over a computer network but potentially also on the same machine. Identify which type of Interprocess Communications (IPCs) is most suitable used 10 achieve the above-mentioned statement and discuss all the necessary steps to perform it. (13 marks) [Total: 25 marks] 4. (a) ‘There is always a dispute in utilizing a stateful server or a stateless server. In order to have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of both types of servers, evaluate the servers in terms of their support for failures, location and replication transparencies. (12 marks) (0) Kerberos provides a trusted third-party authentication system. It kept a single master database of authentication information referred to as the Kerberos database management system (KDBM). Discuss the FOUR (4) phases of Kerberos authentication. (13 marks) [Total: 25 marks] BN RAO A A AGRA This question paper consists of 4 questions on 3 printed pages.