CS 370: Process Synchronization

critical section

segment of code that accesses a shared resource. It is protected and bookended by sentinels and is the part of code that needs to be executed by only one process at a time.

race conditions

situation where the outcome of execution depends on the particular order in which accesses take place

T

No two processes can execute in their critical sections at the

same time (T/F)

entry section

where does each process request permission to enter its critical section?

bounded waiting

limit number of times other processes are allowed to enter their critical sections

Peterson’s Solution

software solution to the critical section problem

F

test and set will set the lock variable to TRUE to signify that another process can enter the critical section (T/F)

semaphore

a synchronization tool used to manage access to shared resources in multi-threaded or multi-process systems by controlling access based on a count.

atomic operations

group of related operations performed without interruptions

F (when a process needs a resource from a higher priority process, it inherits higher priority for the time it needs to use that resource.)

Processes cannot move higher priority in order to access resources, the resources must be granted by a parent process (T/F)

No

Are there problems when two readers access shared data simultaneously?

Yes

Are there problems if a writer and some other reader or writer access shared data simultaneously?