Description: Node availability refers to the ability of a node to respond to requests in a distributed database cluster. In the context of distributed databases, a node is an instance of a server that stores data and participates in query processing. Node availability is crucial to ensure that the system can handle requests efficiently and continuously, even in failure or maintenance situations. Systems designed to be highly available and scalable, like Cassandra, use an eventual consistency model that allows nodes to operate independently. This means that if one node fails, other nodes can continue to serve requests, minimizing downtime. The architecture of such systems typically allows data to be distributed across multiple nodes, which not only improves availability but also provides redundancy and fault tolerance. Node availability is often measured in terms of the percentage of time a node is operational and can respond to requests, being a key indicator of the overall health of the cluster. In summary, node availability is a fundamental aspect of managing distributed databases, ensuring that systems are resilient and capable of providing continuous service to users.
