Distributed System Software Design Paradigm with Application to Computer Networks

A paradigm for the system and software design of distributed systems is presented with application to an actual large scale computer network involving both local area networks and a wide area network. A number of design principles are offered with particular reference to how they can be applied to the design of distributed systems. The major contribution of this paper to the field of distributed systems is an explanation of how to make design decisions about distributed systems in a way which will enhance maintainability and understandability of the software and, at the same time, result in good system performance. Our aim is to recognize the implications for Software quality of various decisions which must be made in the process of specifying a distributed system.