A Comparison of Distributed Systems: ChorusOS and Amoeba

Distributed systems provide a framework to take advantage of the under used computing power of idle machines, and to attempt to solve problems too difficult for ordinary machines. This paper will attempt to define distributed computing and demonstrate the strengths, weaknesses, techniques, and theories behind distributed systems. The scope will include an introduction and discussion of distributed systems and a look at two specific systems: ChorusOS and Amoeba. Section 1: General Overview of Distributed Systems Introduction Flynn's taxonomy attempts to categorize computer systems in terms of how they use data, and how that data is controlled or manipulated. It defines two control streams: SI (single instruction) and MI (multiple instruction), and two data streams: SD (single data) and MD (multiple data). Any computer system will have one type of control stream, and one type of data stream: