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From: darrell@sdcsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.os
Subject: Why no "real" distributed systems?
Message-ID: <2693@sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU>
Date: Tue, 10-Feb-87 00:42:38 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.2693
Posted: Tue Feb 10 00:42:38 1987
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I see that there hasn't been any traffic in this newsgroup for  a
while.   I  hope  it's  the  snow  back  east,  and not a lack of
interest!

Let  me  pose  a  question:  Why  haven't  we  seen  any   "real"
distributed  systems?   I know of many academic projects, but few
of them are widely used.  Many never reach fruition.  The closest
thing  in  wide  use  is  4.3BSD,  but  that  is  certainly NOT a
distributed system -- it's a conventional operating  system  with
network  facilities.   On  the  industry  side  we  have the VAX-
Cluster, but that is  more  akin  to  a  multi-processor  than  a
distributed system.

What, exactly, IS a distributed system?  How does it differ  from
a  system such as, say, 4.3BSD?  Will any of the current academic
projects see wide acceptance, like MACH or the V-System?

Your opinions, views and comments are most welcome!

DL