Primary Name Node  Secondary Name Node 

It is the controller of HDFS.  It is not a backup of the primary name

node. 
It is also the manager of HDFS.  It is a helper of the primary name node. 

It holds the information of the status and It takes snapshots of the HDFS
metadata of all data nodes.  metadata.  
The main function of Primary Name node The main function of secondary name
is to store metadata in its main memory node is to perform periodic checkpoints
to allow quick access.  by communicating with the primary name
node 
It enables quick access of metadata thus It enables to decrease the downtime and
reducing processing time.  loss of data 
It communicates with data node.  It does not communicate with data node.