Distributed Computing Services

Distributed computing services provide specialized support for applications that may be physically dispersed across a number of application platforms yet wish to maintain a cooperative processing environment. The classical definition of a computer becomes blurred as the processes that contribute to information processing become distributed across a facility or a network. Distributed computing services include:

• Distributed time services provide synchronized time coordination as required among distributed processes in different time zones. An equivalent service is described under time services in the paragraph on Object Services.
  • Reallocated to Network Services
• Distributed data services provide access to, and modification of, data/metadata in remote or local databases. In a distributed environment, data not available on the local database are fetched from a remote data server at the request of the local client.
  • Reallocated to Network Services
• Distributed file services provide for transparent remote file access. Applications have equivalent access to data regardless of the data's physical location. Ancillary services for this function can include: transparent addressing, cached data, data replication, file locking and file logging.
  • Reallocated to Network Services
• Distributed name services provide a means for unique identification of resources within a distributed computing system. This service is available to applications within the network and provides information that can include: resource name, associated attributes, physical location, and resource functionality. Note that all system resources should be identifiable, in all information systems, by the distributed name. This permits physical location to change, not only to accommodate movement, but also load balancing, system utilization, scaling (adding processors and moving resources to accommodate the increased resources), distributed processing, and all aspects of open systems. Distributed name services include directory services such as X.500 and network navigation services. Distributed name services include ways to locate data objects both by name and by function. The paragraph on Object Services describes equivalent services under naming services and trading services respectively.
  • Reallocated to Network Services
• Location services provide a way for establishing where a resource is, and by extension how it can be reached.
  • Subsumed within Location and Directory Services
• Remote process (access) services provide the means for dispersed applications to communicate across a computer network. These services facilitate program-to-program communications regardless of their distributed nature or operation on heterogeneous platforms. Remote process services including remote procedure call (RPC) and asynchronous messaging mechanisms underpin client/server applications.
  • Reallocated to Network Services
• Remote print spooling and output distribution services provide the means for printing output remotely. The services include management of remote printing including printer and media selection, use of forms, security and print queue management.
  • Reallocated to Network Services

Copyright © The Open Group, 1998