Processes vs threads, Computer Engineering

Assignment Help:

One might argue that in general processes are more ?exible than threads. For one thing, they can live in two different machines, and communicate via sockets; they are easy to spawn remotely (e.g. ssh foo.cs.umass.edu "ls -l"); etc. However, using processes requires explicit com- munication and risks hackery. Threads also have their own problems: because they communicate through shared memory, they must run on the same machine and they require thread-safe code.

So even though threads are faster, they are much harder to program. In a sense, we can say that processes are far more robust than threads, since they are completely isolated from other another. Threads, on the other hand, are not that safe, since whenever one thread crashes the whole process terminates.

When comparing processes and threads, we can also analyze the cost of context switches. When- ever we need to switch between two processes, we must invalidate the TLB cache (the so-called TLB shootdown; see Section 6.2.3). Because warming up the TLB takes time, context switches for processes are slower.

On the other hand, when we switch between two threads, it is not necessary to invalidate the TLB, because all threads share the same address space, and thus have the same contents in the cache. In other words, on many operating systems, the cost of switching between threads is much smaller than the cost of switching between processes. Most large-scale systems use a mixture of processes and threads:

threads within a process on one server, communicating via a network socket to similar processes on other servers.


Related Discussions:- Processes vs threads

Write c program to read the text book number, With a C program to read the ...

With a C program to read the text book number, title, author and publisher into a structure and print these values. # include # include void main() { struct boo

Micro-programmed control, Q. MICRO-PROGRAMMED CONTROL? A substitute to ...

Q. MICRO-PROGRAMMED CONTROL? A substitute to a hardwired control unit is a micro-programmed control unit in which logic of the control unit is specified by a micro-program. A m

What do you mean by best fit, What do you mean by best fit?  Best fit a...

What do you mean by best fit?  Best fit allocates the smallest hole that is big enough. The whole list has to be searched, unless it is sorted by size. This method makes the sm

What is a c++ class, Class is a user-defined data type in C++. It can be fo...

Class is a user-defined data type in C++. It can be formed to solve a particular kind of problem. After creation the user require not know the specifics of the working of a class.

Define processor clock, Define processor clock. Processor clock is expl...

Define processor clock. Processor clock is explained as the time periods in which all operations and data transfer within the processor take place.

What are the different phases of consumer mercantile model, What are the di...

What are the different phases of consumer mercantile model? There are three different phase of consumer mercantile model like listed as in below: • Pre-purchase interaction

BCD ADDER, create a BCD adder combinational ckt. that adds 2 digit BCD inpu...

create a BCD adder combinational ckt. that adds 2 digit BCD inputs

External program components, How does the system handle roll areas for exte...

How does the system handle roll areas for external program components? Transactions run in their own roll areas. Reports run in their own roll areas. Dialog modules run

Minimax search, Minimax search: Always notice there that the process a...

Minimax search: Always notice there that the process above was in order for player one to choose his and her first move for that. The whole entire process would require to fre

How many types of keys used to encrypt and decrypt data, How many types of ...

How many types of keys used to encrypt and decrypt data in Secure Sockets Layer? Two forms of keys are used as ciphers to decrypt and encrypt data. Private keys are referred to

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd