What is the difference between quorum and replication in distributed systems?

What is the difference between quorum and replication in distributed systems?

Quorum refers to the minimum number of votes required to make a decision in a distributed system, while replication involves copying data across multiple nodes to ensure availability and fault tolerance.

Can you explain how quorum works in a practical scenario?

Sure! In a distributed database, if you have 5 nodes, you might require a quorum of 3 nodes to agree on a transaction before it's committed. This ensures that even if 2 nodes fail, the system can still reach a consensus.

How does replication help in maintaining data consistency?

Replication helps maintain data consistency by ensuring that all copies of the data are updated simultaneously or in a controlled manner, reducing the chances of discrepancies between nodes.

What are some challenges associated with quorum and replication?

Challenges include network latency, the complexity of achieving consensus, and the potential for split-brain scenarios where nodes disagree on the state of the system.