====== Distributed Environment ====== [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Go to Terms and Definitions]] ===== Discussion ===== A Distributed Environment is an [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:i:infrastructure_environment|Infrastructure Environment]] whose components, resources, services, or operational functions span multiple networked [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:f:financial_node|Nodes]] or locations. The distribution can involve: * Compute resources * Storage resources * Network resources * Software components * Services * Data * Processing * Management functions * Operational responsibilities The participating Nodes or locations cooperate to provide the behavior of the environment. A Distributed Environment can span multiple: * Geographic locations * Data centers * Cloud regions * Edge locations * Network zones * [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:d:deployment_target|Deployment Targets]] * [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:s:security_domain|Security Domains]] * Connected, disconnected, or intermittently connected network segments A Distributed Environment differs from a [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:d:distributed_system|Distributed System]]: * A Distributed Environment describes the infrastructure, resources, services, and operational context distributed across Nodes or locations * A Distributed System describes coordinated system behavior allocated across multiple networked Nodes A Distributed Environment can host one or more Centralized Systems, Distributed Systems, or combinations of both. A Distributed Environment also differs from a [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:d:distributed_network_topology|Distributed Network Topology]]: * A Distributed Environment describes the complete operational environment * A Distributed Network Topology describes the arrangement and interconnection of its network Nodes A Distributed Environment can operate under [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:c:centralized_management|Centralized Management]] even though its resources and functions remain distributed. ===== Definition ===== //[[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:i:infrastructure_environment|infrastructure environment]] whose components, resources, services, or operational functions span multiple networked [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:f:financial_node|Nodes]] or locations// ===== Source ===== * DIDO Reference Architecture, Network Topology Taxonomy * Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc. ===== Note ===== A Distributed Environment does not require: * Every Node to perform the same function * Every Node to hold the same data * Direct communication between every pair of Nodes * Equal authority among Nodes * One specific network topology * One specific management model The governing architecture determines: * Node roles * Resource allocation * Service placement * Data placement * Communication paths * Management authority * Security boundaries * Failure-handling behavior * Connectivity requirements Physical separation alone does not establish a Distributed Environment. The separated components, resources, services, or operational functions form one environment through defined relationships and coordinated operation. The term does not prescribe cloud computing, peer-to-peer communication, consensus algorithms, distributed ledgers, containers, virtual machines, or a particular network protocol. ===== Example ===== An Infrastructure Environment contains compute resources in two data centers, storage resources in a cloud region, and validation services at an edge location. The resources and services cooperate as one managed environment. [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:c:crucible|Crucible]] performs Centralized Management of the Distributed Environment while its infrastructure remains distributed across the participating locations. ---- © 2026 Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.