Process Synchronization - Descriptive Questions & Solutions
1. Define Process Synchronization. Why is it needed?
Process synchronization ensures multiple processes execute concurrently without data
inconsistency or resource conflicts.
Need:
- Prevent race conditions
- Ensure data consistency
- Coordinate critical section access
- Prevent deadlock/starvation
2. What is a Critical Section? Explain the Critical Section Problem.
Critical section: Code segment accessing shared resources.
Problem: Design protocol ensuring:
- Mutual Exclusion
- Progress
- Bounded Waiting
3. Describe Peterson's Solution for the Critical Section Problem.
Software solution for 2 processes:
- Shared: flag[2], turn
- Each sets flag & turn, waits until safe to enter critical section.
4. What are Semaphores? Explain with an example.
Semaphore: Integer used for signaling.
Types: Binary & Counting
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Process Synchronization - Descriptive Questions & Solutions
Operations: wait(), signal()
Example:
wait(S);
// critical section
signal(S);
5. Differentiate between Mutex and Semaphore.
| Feature | Mutex | Semaphore |
|---------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Value | 0 or 1 | Integer |
| Ownership | Yes | No |
| Use | Exclusive resource | Multiple instances |
6. Explain Deadlock and the necessary conditions for its occurrence.
Deadlock: Processes blocked holding/waiting for resources.
Conditions:
1. Mutual Exclusion
2. Hold and Wait
3. No Preemption
4. Circular Wait
7. What is the Producer-Consumer Problem? Provide a Semaphore-based solution.
Problem: Producers add, consumers remove from buffer.
Solution:
Semaphore full=0, empty=n, mutex=1
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Process Synchronization - Descriptive Questions & Solutions
Producer: wait(empty); wait(mutex); produce; signal(mutex); signal(full);
Consumer: wait(full); wait(mutex); consume; signal(mutex); signal(empty);
8. Explain Monitors and their role in process synchronization.
Monitor: High-level construct providing mutual exclusion and condition variables (wait, signal).
Example in Java:
synchronized method using wait() and notify().
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