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Communication and Concurrency

The document discusses concurrency in operating systems. Concurrency refers to the execution of multiple instruction sequences simultaneously, such as when multiple processes or threads are running at the same time. This allows for better performance and resource utilization but introduces challenges around sharing resources, predicting execution order, and ensuring processes do not interfere with each other in problematic ways like deadlocks. Techniques are needed for coordination, memory allocation, and scheduling to maximize throughput while avoiding issues.

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Amit Saha
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136 views3 pages

Communication and Concurrency

The document discusses concurrency in operating systems. Concurrency refers to the execution of multiple instruction sequences simultaneously, such as when multiple processes or threads are running at the same time. This allows for better performance and resource utilization but introduces challenges around sharing resources, predicting execution order, and ensuring processes do not interfere with each other in problematic ways like deadlocks. Techniques are needed for coordination, memory allocation, and scheduling to maximize throughput while avoiding issues.

Uploaded by

Amit Saha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COMMUNICATION AND

CONCURRENCY
What is Concurrency?

It refers to the execution of multiple instruction sequences at the same time. It occurs in an
operating system when multiple process threads are executing concurrently. These threads can
interact with one another via shared memory or message passing. Concurrency results in
resource sharing, which causes issues like deadlocks and resource scarcity. It aids with
techniques such as process coordination, memory allocation, and execution schedule to
maximize throughput.

Principles of Concurrency

Today's technology, like multi-core processors and parallel processing, allows multiple processes
and threads to be executed simultaneously. Multiple processes and threads can access the same
memory space, the same declared variable in code, or even read or write to the same file.

The amount of time it takes a process to execute cannot be simply estimated, and you cannot
predict which process will complete first, enabling you to build techniques to deal with the
problems that concurrency creates.

Interleaved and overlapping processes are two types of concurrent processes with the same
problems. It is impossible to predict the relative speed of execution, and the following factors
determine it:

1. The way operating system handles interrupts


2. Other processes' activities
3. The operating system's scheduling policies

Problems in Concurrency

There are various problems in concurrency. Some of them are as follows:

1. Locating the programming errors

It's difficult to spot a programming error because reports are usually repeatable due to the
varying states of shared components each time the code is executed.

2. Sharing Global Resources

Sharing global resources is difficult. If two processes utilize a global variable and both alter the
variable's value, the order in which the many changes are executed is critical.
3. Locking the channel

It could be inefficient for the OS to lock the resource and prevent other processes from using it.

4. Optimal Allocation of Resources

It is challenging for the OS to handle resource allocation properly.

Issues of Concurrency

Various issues of concurrency are as follows:

1. Non-atomic

Operations that are non-atomic but interruptible by several processes may happen issues. A non-
atomic operation depends on other processes, and an atomic operation runs independently of
other processes.

2. Deadlock

In concurrent computing, it occurs when one group member waits for another member, including
itself, to send a message and release a lock. Software and hardware locks are commonly used to
arbitrate shared resources and implement process synchronization in parallel computing,
distributed systems, and multiprocessing.

3. Blocking

A blocked process is waiting for some event, like the availability of a resource or completing an
I/O operation. Processes may block waiting for resources, and a process may be blocked for a
long time waiting for terminal input. If the process is needed to update some data periodically, it
will be very undesirable.

4. Race Conditions

A race problem occurs when the output of a software application is determined by the timing or
sequencing of other uncontrollable events. Race situations can also happen in multithreaded
software, runs in a distributed environment, or is interdependent on shared resources.

5. Starvation

A problem in concurrent computing is where a process is continuously denied the resources it


needs to complete its work. It could be caused by errors in scheduling or mutual exclusion
algorithm, but resource leaks may also cause it.
Concurrent system design frequently requires developing dependable strategies for coordinating
their execution, data interchange, memory allocation, and execution schedule to decrease
response time and maximize throughput.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Concurrency in Operating System

Various advantages and disadvantages of Concurrency in Operating systems are as follows:

Advantages

1. Better Performance

It improves the operating system's performance. When one application only utilizes the
processor, and another only uses the disk drive, the time it takes to perform both apps
simultaneously is less than the time it takes to run them sequentially.

2. Better Resource Utilization

It enables resources that are not being used by one application to be used by another.

3. Running Multiple Applications

It enables you to execute multiple applications simultaneously.

Disadvantages

1. It is necessary to protect multiple applications from each other.


2. It is necessary to use extra techniques to coordinate several applications.
3. Additional performance overheads and complexities in OS are needed for switching
between applications.

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