Concurrency in PC Architecture
“Discuss how concurrency is achieved in a typical PC architecture, as well as in distributed systems and clusters. ... ” Concurrency is concerned with the fundamental aspects of systems where simultaneous processes are interacting with one another. ... In a typical PC architecture the concept of multiprogramming is used where processes are running at all times to maximise CPU utilization. Concurrency is controlled with help from the scheduler. ... With concurrency, several difficulties may arise with multiple threads of control which can lead to subtle and unanticipated interactions between the processes, such as a deadlock as referred to above. ... The differences between a typical PC architecture, distributed system and clusters lie in the number of processors and the access to memory. ... The use of locking protocols are used for concurrency control but in a distributed system the inteference of a lock manager is used to coordinate the lock and unlock handling between sites.