Cache Coherence Protocols in Multiprocessor Systems

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Questions and Answers

What is the main issue that cache coherence protocols aim to address?

  • Maintaining a uniform state for each cached block of data (correct)
  • Preventing multiple processors from operating asynchronously
  • Ensuring that main memory always has the most up-to-date data
  • Eliminating the need for caches in a multiprocessing environment

Why does the cache inconsistency problem occur in a multiprocessing environment?

  • Because main memory and cache cannot communicate effectively
  • As a result of insufficient hardware support for synchronization
  • To encourage private caches to store more data
  • Due to the asynchronous and independent operation of multiple processors (correct)

What is one of the identified sources of the cache inconsistency problem?

  • Hardware not supporting synchronization
  • Storing of write data (correct)
  • Excessive process migration
  • Main memory being faster than cache

How do cache coherence schemes help in preventing the cache coherence problem?

<p>By maintaining a uniform state for each cached block of data (A)</p>
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What role does software-implemented synchronization play in addressing the cache coherence problem?

<p>It will be discussed in Chapter 11 (D)</p>
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Why does the cache inconsistency problem only occur when private caches are used?

<p>Because private caches lead to multiple caches having different copies of the same memory block (A)</p>
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What is a possible consequence of using a write-back cache policy when updating shared data in a multiprocessor system?

<p>Inconsistency between the two cache copies (A)</p>
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In a multiprocessor system with private caches, what may happen if a data element X is updated in one processor's cache but not immediately reflected in the shared memory?

<p>Inconsistency between the two caches (B)</p>
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Which scenario may lead to inconsistency between cache copies labeled X and X' when a process migrates between processors in a multiprocessor system?

<p>Using write-back caches (A)</p>
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What is one possible drawback of attaching H0 processors to private caches in order to address the U0 inconsistency problem?

<p>Increase in cache perturbations and poor locality of HG data (A)</p>
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What issue may arise when outputting data directly from shared memory, bypassing the caches in a multiprocessor system?

<p>Creating inconsistency between cache i and shared memory (C)</p>
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Why must special precautions be taken to avoid inconsistencies when a process migrates between processors in a multiprocessor system?

<p>To establish a coherence protocol (D)</p>
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Study Notes

Cache Coherence Protocols

  • Cache coherence protocols are used to cope with the multicache inconsistency problem in multiprocessor systems.
  • There are two types of cache coherence protocols: snoopy protocols for bus-connected systems and directory-based protocols for network-connected systems.

The Cache Coherence Problem

  • The cache coherence problem occurs when multiple processors maintain locally cached copies of a unique shared-memory location, resulting in a globally inconsistent view of memory.
  • The problem arises due to data sharing, process migration, or I/O operations.
  • Three sources of cache inconsistencies are:
    • Storing of write data
    • Process migration
    • I/O operations

Inconsistency due to Data Sharing

  • Cache inconsistency occurs when multiple private caches are used and share a common memory location.
  • Consider a multiprocessor system with two processors, each using a private cache and sharing the main memory.
  • If one processor updates a shared data element, the caches may become inconsistent.

Process Migration and I/O

  • Process migration can cause inconsistency between cache copies when a process containing a shared variable migrates from one processor to another.
  • I/O operations can also cause inconsistency when they bypass the caches and update the main memory directly.
  • Attaching I/O processors to private caches can help maintain consistency, but may result in higher cache perturbations and poor locality of I/O data.

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