A data distribution layer is one of the operational software layers in a modern data platform. In a distributed (clustered) data platform architecture, an data distribution layer is required for the efficient, reliable, and timely delivery of data to all database replicas and all nodes in a database cluster. It employs various communication technologies to enable efficient, scalable and high-performance communication. This operational data distribution layer also manages and automates fail-over, replication, cross-datacenter replication, and intelligent re-balancing and data migration.

Aerospike’s Cross Datacenter Replication (XDR) mechanism is the engine that drives the data distribution layer in the Aerospike Real-time Data Platform.