Question 1 of 5
2025-03-20
In a distributed system using a consistent hashing algorithm for data partitioning, what are the potential challenges of adding or removing nodes from the cluster, and how can techniques like virtual nodes mitigate these issues? Adding or removing nodes requires rehashing the entire data set, leading to significant data movement and disruption. Virtual nodes reduce the impact by distributing the rehashing load across multiple physical nodes, minimizing disruption. Adding or removing nodes can create data imbalances and hotspots, where some nodes become overloaded while others are underutilized. Virtual nodes mitigate this by creating a more uniform distribution of data across the cluster, improving load balancing. Adding or removing nodes can lead to inconsistent data states if not handled carefully during the rehashing process. Virtual nodes ensure data consistency by maintaining a consistent view of the data distribution across all nodes. Adding or removing nodes introduces network latency as data is redistributed across the cluster. Virtual nodes minimize latency by placing data on nodes closest to the client, optimizing data access.