Answer 5_4_2
Question 2
What advantages and disadvantages are there in
having a distributed database?
Advantages include:
- Less expensive to access regional database than
a central database in another country;
- Local database can be set up to address local
needs.
- The ventral database can be partitioned to
reflect the local needs, like customers, stock, etc.
- Several databases are less vulnerable to
disasters;
- Each site can provide back-up facilities to the
other sites.
Disadvantages include:
- Data integrity and consistency becomes harder to
maintain;
- It is difficult to correct mistakes made on the data
since there may be several copies.
- Mechanisms needed to ensure that the data are
maintained correctly;
- Powerful and reliable communications systems are
needed;
- There can be questions of security of sensitive
data.
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