The main difference between clustered and distributed systems is that clustered systems are a group of interconnected computers that work together to perform a common task, while distributed systems are a group of computers that communicate and coordinate with each other to achieve a common goal.
Clustered systems use redundancy and failover techniques to handle failures, where one node takes over the task of a failed node. On the other hand, distributed systems use replication and fault-tolerant algorithms to handle failures, where data is distributed across multiple nodes and can be accessed even if one node fails.
Distributed systems are more suitable for handling large amounts of data. In a clustered system, all the data is stored in one location, making it difficult to scale as the data grows. In a distributed system, data is distributed across multiple nodes, allowing for easier scalability as more nodes can be added to handle the increasing data load.
Clustered systems generally have better performance than distributed systems as all the nodes are interconnected and can communicate more efficiently. However, distributed systems can handle higher workloads and have better fault tolerance, making them more suitable for certain applications.
Yes, a system can be both clustered and distributed. In fact, many modern systems combine both approaches to take advantage of the benefits of each. For example, a system can have multiple clustered nodes, each of which is a distributed system in itself, allowing for high availability, scalability, and fault tolerance.