What does basically available mean in the BASE model?

What does basically available mean in the BASE model?

• A. The system is completely up all the time
• B. The system can still function if some nodes are down
• C. All services must be reachable at all times
• D. The database must be fully redundant

Answer: (B)

In the context of the BASE model, "basically available" signifies that the system is designed to continue functioning even in the presence of certain failures or unavailability of some components, such as nodes. This contrasts with traditional models where full availability implies that every component must be operational at all times. The core idea behind "basically available" is that while the system offers a level of availability, it allows for some tolerance of failures. This makes it adaptable and resilient, enabling continuous service even if some parts are not fully operational. Therefore, the focus is on maintaining operational capabilities, ensuring that users can still access core functionalities of the system, even when individual nodes might be experiencing issues. This attribute is significant in distributed systems where maintaining complete uptime for all components can be impractical.

In the context of the BASE model, "basically available" signifies that the system is designed to continue functioning even in the presence of certain failures or unavailability of some components, such as nodes. This contrasts with traditional models where full availability implies that every component must be operational at all times. The core idea behind "basically available" is that while the system offers a level of availability, it allows for some tolerance of failures. This makes it adaptable and resilient, enabling continuous service even if some parts are not fully operational.

Therefore, the focus is on maintaining operational capabilities, ensuring that users can still access core functionalities of the system, even when individual nodes might be experiencing issues. This attribute is significant in distributed systems where maintaining complete uptime for all components can be impractical.