Databases Demystified Chapter 7 – Distributed Databases Part 2

Distributed databases offer powerful solutions to complex problems but also introduce new challenges such as network outages and data distribution issues. A leader node is responsible for coordinating the work of follower nodes, distributing queries among them, and compiling results. When a leader node loses contact with a follower node, it must address questions about backup data and data loss. Updating data in distributed databases requires managing transactions and locking across multiple nodes while considering network outages. Hot segment issues arise when there is an imbalanced distribution of data access across nodes, which can slow down the system. Data shuffling between nodes can also lead to slower response times. The CAP theorem highlights trade-offs in distributed databases: consistency vs. availability and partition tolerance. In the case of distributed databases, network partitions are a fact of life, leading to latency and consistency trade-offs.