Disadvantages of Two-Phase Commit (2PC) Explained

Discover the key drawbacks of Two-Phase Commit (2PC) in distributed systems, including single points of failure and high latency.

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Two-Phase Commit (2PC), while ensuring consistency in distributed systems, has several disadvantages. It introduces a single point of failure since if the coordinator node fails, the entire system is left in an uncertain state. Additionally, it suffers from high latency due to its blocking nature, as all nodes must wait for the coordinator's decision. 2PC's lack of fault tolerance means that even a single node's failure can halt the entire process. Lastly, it has complex recovery mechanisms that complicate system management.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is the main purpose of Two-Phase Commit? Two-Phase Commit is used to ensure consistency and reliability in distributed database transactions.
  2. How does 2PC handle errors? 2PC employs complex recovery mechanisms, but these can complicate system management and add latency.
  3. What are some alternatives to Two-Phase Commit? Alternatives include Three-Phase Commit and modern consensus protocols like Paxos and Raft.
  4. Why is fault tolerance important in distributed systems? Fault tolerance is crucial to prevent system failures and ensure consistent data across multiple nodes.