UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2018/2019
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY/ BACHELOR OF BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT3202A BBIT304 DISTRIBUTED DATABASES ADVANCED DATABASE SYSTEMS
FULL TIME/PART TIME/DISTANCE LEARNING
DATE: DECEMBER, 2018 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One & ANY OTHER TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE
a) Differentiate between Distributed processing and Cooperative processing as applied in Distributed
databases. (4 Marks)
b) Explain the link between standardization efforts, architecture and reference models
(4 Marks)
c) Explain how connectivity between different DBMSs can be facilitated (8 Marks)
d) Discuss the different ways in which high reliability is achieved in distributed databases
(8 Marks)
e) Explain any three complicating factors associated with distributed database
(6 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
a) Examine any four applications that use distributed databases concepts (4 Marks)
b) Elaborate on the benefits provided by views in databases? (6 Marks)
c) Describe the activities involved in Query processing (6 Marks)
d) Using examples explain the properties of a transaction (4 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
a) Briefly explain how the Two-Phase Commit Mechanism in distributed databases ensures data
integrity (5 Marks)
b) Do you think the following are distributed database management systems? Explain.
i) Distributed Processing (2 Marks)
ii) Parallel DBMS (2 Marks)
c) Using a relevant example explain the concept of a Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) in distributed
databases (6Marks)
d) Briefly explain how Distributed Query Optimization is achieved in databases
(5 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
a) Discuss how the following strategies are used in replication
i) Centralized (3 Marks)
ii) Partitioned (3 Marks)
iii) Complete Replication (3 Marks)
iv) Selective Replication (3 Marks)
a) Explain the architecture that is the most preferred for distributed databases
(4Marks)
b) Using SQL show how Views can be used to create location transparency in a distributed database
(4 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
a) Elaborate on the following distributed query optimization methods
i) Collocated Inline Views (2 Marks)
ii) Using Cost-Based Optimization (2 Marks)
b) Explain using examples any two operations supported by each of DML and DDL (4 Marks)
c) Describe how the global coordinator controls distributed transactions in a distributed database,
(6 Marks)
d) Outline the three ways in which Distributed transactions can become in-doubt
(6 Marks)
