1 Introduction
2 Architectures
3 Processess
4 Communication
5 Naming
6 Synchronization
7 Consistency and replication
8 Fault tolerance
9 Security
10 Distributed object-based systems
11 Distributed file systems
12 Distributed web-based systems
13 Distributed coordination-based
Index

• First part of the book dedicates one chapter to each of seven key principles of all distributed systems: communication, processes, naming, synchronisation, consistency and replication, fault tolerance, and security.

– Gives students an understanding of the key principles, paradigms, and models on which all distributed systems are based.



• Second part of the book devoted to real-world distributed case studies:

– Includes examples of object-based, document-based, file-based, and coordination-based systems including Corba, DCOM, Globe, NFS v4, Coda, WWW, and Jini.

– Because Part II is organised along the same seven key principles that are discussed in the first part, students not only learn how state-of-the-art real-world systems and middleware work, but are also able to compare the different systems easily.



• Numerous end-of-chapter exercises – Explain how the various principles of distributed systems work in practice.



• “Big picture” concepts and many technical details:

– Presented in the clear, entertaining style unique to Tanenbaum and van Steen.

– Helps students learn the foundation of distributed operating systems and how things work in the real world.



• Excellent coverage of timely, advanced distributed systems topics – Examines security, payment systems, recent Internet and Web protocols, scalability, and caching and replication.