From distributed systems to cloud computing

This lesson introduces the concept of a distributed system, explaining how multiple computers, servers, and software components can collaborate over a network to provide a single service. The text highlights the importance of scalability, reliability, availability, and transparency: the user perceives the system as a single entity, even though resources are distributed across multiple machines.

The role of middleware is then introduced; it facilitates communication between different components and hides some of the infrastructure’s complexity. In the second part, the lesson links distributed systems to cloud computing, showing how services such as Spotify, Instagram, and Google Drive rely on servers, data centers, and remote resources accessible via the Internet.

Bibliography

Primary sources

Mell, P., & Grance, T. (2011). The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing. NIST Special Publication 800-145.

Badger, L., Grance, T., Patt-Corner, R., & Voas, J. (2012). Cloud Computing Synopsis and Recommendations. NIST Special Publication 800-146.

ISO/IEC. (2014). ISO/IEC 17788:2014 — Information technology — Cloud computing — Overview and vocabulary.

ITU-T / ISO/IEC. (2014). Recommendation ITU-T Y.3500 | ISO/IEC 17788 — Cloud computing — Overview and vocabulary.

Secondary sources

van Steen, M. (2016). A brief introduction to distributed systems. Computing.i.

van Steen, M., & Tanenbaum, A. S. (2025). Distributed Systems, 4th edition.

Buyya, R., Broberg, J., & Goscinski, A. Cloud Computing: Principles and Paradigms. Wiley.

Erl, T., Puttini, R., & Mahmood, Z. Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture. Pearson.

Rittinghouse, J. W., & Ransome, J. F. Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management, and Security. CRC Press.

Index

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