Process Synchronization and Critical Sections
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Questions and Answers

What does mutual exclusion ensure in process synchronization?

  • No processes can request access to a resource.
  • Only one process can execute in its critical section at a time. (correct)
  • Processes can only access resources in a defined order.
  • All processes can enter their critical sections simultaneously.

    • Which condition prevents a process from waiting indefinitely to enter its critical section?

  • Bounded Waiting
  • Progress (correct)
  • Deadlock Prevention
  • Mutex Locking

    • What is the purpose of bounded waiting in the context of process synchronization?

  • To minimize the execution time of any single process.
  • To prevent hardware locks from being used.
  • To allow all processes to access their critical sections equally.
  • To ensure that no process is denied access indefinitely. (correct)

    • Which of the following is NOT a mechanism for achieving process synchronization in hardware?

    <p>Semaphore</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can occur if multiple processes try to update a variable at the same time?

    <p>Data inconsistency problems can arise.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the progress condition improve process synchronization?

    <p>By preventing starvation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect does mutual exclusion directly address?

    <p>Access to shared resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main problem solved by hardware locks in process synchronization?

    <p>Avoiding data corruption during concurrent access.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the LOCK variable signify when its value is 1?

    <p>The critical section is full</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the initial state of the LOCK variable as described in the content?

    <p>LOCK = 0 indicates vacant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the TestAndSet function return when it successfully acquires the lock?

    <p>true</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of semaphores, what does a semaphore typically control?

    <p>Mutual exclusion in processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the function of the swap method provided in the content?

    <p>It exchanges the values of two boolean variables.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of the while loop in the TestAndSet function?

    <p>To create a waiting condition until the lock is acquired</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the swap function, what condition must be satisfied for the critical section to execute?

    <p>key must be true</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What state does the target variable represent in the TestAndSet function?

    <p>The previous value of the lock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a critical section in the context of process synchronization?

    <p>A specific part of a program where shared resources are accessed and modified.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is race condition in process synchronization?

    <p>A state where multiple processes access a shared resource simultaneously causing inconsistencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mechanism is commonly used to ensure synchronization in critical sections?

    <p>Locks and semaphores.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What specifically happens when two processes access a shared resource simultaneously?

    <p>The last process to access the resource determines its final value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of processes share resources within a system?

    <p>Cooperative processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the provided example, what does the variable 'shared' represent?

    <p>A global variable that is modified by both P1 and P2.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common result of improper synchronization in process execution?

    <p>Data inconsistency and unexpected results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes independent processes from cooperative processes?

    <p>Independent processes do not share any resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What issue does synchronization aim to resolve in multi-process systems?

    <p>Race condition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the critical section in process execution?

    <p>Only one process is allowed to access it at any given time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a process's structure, what is the purpose of the entry section?

    <p>To request permission to enter the critical section</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when process P2 interferes with process P1 in the given scenario?

    <p>The value is changed back to 3.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the exit section of a critical section signify?

    <p>The process has completed its tasks in the critical section.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a race condition?

    <p>Processes generate conflicting outputs due to simultaneous access to shared data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do processes P1 and P2 both include before entering their critical sections?

    <p>An entry section for permission requests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of designing a protocol for the critical section problem?

    <p>To ensure mutual exclusion within critical sections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Process Synchronization

    • Processes share resources like memory, code, variables, and hardware components.
    • Independent processes do not share anything.
    • A race condition occurs when multiple processes concurrently update a shared variable, leading to unpredictable results and potential data corruption.

    The Critical Section Problem

    • Processes can be in a critical section, where they access shared resources.
    • Critical sections must be synchronized to avoid race conditions.
    • Only one process should be allowed in a critical section at a time to prevent conflicting access and ensure data integrity.

    Solutions to the Critical Section Problem

    • Implemented through synchronization mechanisms.
    • Four key conditions must be met:
      • Mutual exclusion: Only one process can access the critical section at a time.
      • Progress: If no process is in the critical section and multiple processes want to enter, it should be possible for some process to enter, not be kept waiting indefinitely.
      • Bounded Waiting: A limit on the number of times a process can be delayed while another process enters the critical section.
      • Fairness: Access to the critical section should be granted based on a fair method, preventing any process from being starved of access.

    Hardware Synchronization

    • Hardware locks are used to solve the problem of process synchronization.
    • Test And Set
      • uses a boolean variable 'lock'.
      • 'lock' is true when a process is in the critical section, preventing others from entering.
      • 'lock' is false when the critical section is available, allowing a process to enter.
    • Swap
      • Uses a function that swaps the values of two boolean variables.
      • A key is set to true, and after entering the critical section, it is swapped with 'Lock' variable, which initially false, to signal the critical section is occupied.
    • Unlock and Lock
      • Uses a 'LOCK' variable with a value of 0 for vacant and 1 for full, to signal the critical section's availability.
      • A process that enters the critical section sets 'LOCK' to 1. Upon exiting, it sets 'LOCK' to 0 to release the lock.

    Semaphores

    • Semaphores are used to synchronize processes.
    • They act as flags to signal the availability or unavailability of resources.
    • They are integers used to track the number of available resources or positions in a critical section.
    • Processes can use semaphores to wait for available resources or to signal when a resource is freed for others.

    Types of Semaphores

    • Binary Semaphores:
      • Used for mutual exclusion.
      • Can only have a value of 0 or 1.
      • Used for synchronization between two processes.
    • Counting Semaphores:
      • Used for managing multiple resources.
      • Can represent any number of resources.
      • Processes can increment or decrement semaphore's value, reflecting the number of available resources.

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    Related Documents

    Process Synchronization and Deadlocks PDF

    Description

    Explore the concepts of process synchronization and the critical section problem in operating systems. This quiz covers race conditions, mutual exclusion, and synchronization mechanisms to help you understand how processes manage shared resources efficiently.

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