Protocols for Deadlock Detection in Distributed Database Systems

In distributed databases, deadlocks may occur due to conflicts in data file lockings A system is in a deadlock if and only if there is a directed cycle in its demand graph. However, due to the inherent communication delay in a distributed system, it is not easy to construct a consistent demand graph for a distributed system. In this paper, three deadlock detection protocols are discussed. The first protocol uses two communication phases. The second protocol uses a single communication phase. Based on the second protocol, a one-phase hierarchical deadlock detection protocol is developed.