Cassandra Practice Test

Using virtual nodes (vnodes) in Cassandra can indeed complicate node management. Vnodes allow a single physical node to manage multiple token ranges, which is intended to enhance data distribution and balance the load across the cluster. However, this flexibility can introduce complexity in various management tasks. For example, when adding or removing nodes, the process of redistributing data can be more intricate because each node is responsible for multiple small ranges of tokens rather than just one large contiguous range. This can lead to challenges in understanding the current distribution of data, planning for expansions, and ensuring optimal performance throughout the cluster. The administrator must keep track of which vnode belongs to which node and the overall data movement across the cluster, which can be more complex than traditional token management without vnodes. While there are advantages to using vnodes, including better load distribution and easier scaling, the management complexity they introduce is a noteworthy consideration, which aligns with the answer provided.