What is consensus in distributed systems?

What is consensus in distributed systems?

Consensus in distributed systems refers to the process of achieving agreement among multiple nodes or processes on a single data value or state, despite failures or network partitions.

Why is consensus important in distributed systems?

Consensus is crucial because it ensures reliability and consistency across the system, allowing it to function correctly even when some nodes fail.

Can you explain some algorithms used for achieving consensus?

Sure! Some popular consensus algorithms include Paxos, Raft, and Byzantine Fault Tolerance, each with its own approach to achieving agreement.

What are the challenges in achieving consensus?

Challenges include network latency, node failures, and the need to handle malicious nodes, which can complicate the agreement process.

How do different consensus algorithms compare?

Different algorithms vary in terms of efficiency, fault tolerance, and complexity. For example, Raft is often considered easier to understand than Paxos.