Synchronization

From CERCS Multi-Core Repository

Basic topics:

• Introduction to Threads - basic synchronization mechanisms
  • Mutex
  • Threads and Synchronization
• Synchronization Mechanisms - overview of various syncronization constructus -- from semaphors to path expressions
• Classic Synchronization Problems
• Deadlocks

Assignments:

• Collection of Synchronization problems

Advanced topics:

• Spinlock Alternatives for Shared Memory Processors
• Projects
  • Read Copy Update
  • Asynchronous RPC
• Advanced Synchronization Constructs
• Advanced Problems in Synchronization (from Berkeley CS162)

References:

• "The Performance of Spinlock Alternatives for Shared Memory Multiprocessors", T. Anderson
• "Evaluating Synchronization Mechanisms", Toby Bloom
• "Algorithms for Scalable Synchronization on Shared-Memory Multiprocessors ", Mellor-Crummey, J. M. and Scott, M., ACM Transactions on Computer Systems, Feb. 1991.
• "Read-Copy Update: Using Execution History to Solve Concurrency Problems", Paul E. Mckenney and John D. Slingwine, Parallel and Distributed Computing and Systems, Oct 1998
• Monitors: An Operating System Structuring Concept, C. A. R. Hoare, Comm. of the ACM, 1974
• Synchronization in actor systems, Russell Atkinson, Carl Hewitt