Chapter 4: Threads
Operating System Concepts – 8th Edition
Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne ©2009
Chapter 4: Threads
Overview
Multithreading Models
Thread Libraries
Threading Issues
Operating System Examples
Windows XP Threads
Linux Threads
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Objectives
To introduce the notion of a thread — a fundamental unit of CPU utilization that forms the basis of
multithreaded computer systems
To discuss the APIs for the Pthreads, Win32, and Java thread libraries
To examine issues related to multithreaded programming
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Motivation
Threads run within application
Multiple tasks with the application can be implemented by separate threads
Update display
Fetch data
Spell checking
Answer a network request
Process creation is heavyweight while thread creation is lightweight
Can simplify code, increase efficiency
Kernels are generally multithreaded
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Single and Multithreaded Processes
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Benefits
Responsiveness
Resource Sharing
Economy
Scalability
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Multicore Programming
Multicore systems putting pressure on programmers, challenges include:
Dividing activities
Balance
Data splitting
Data dependency
Testing and debugging
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Multithreaded Server Architecture
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Concurrent Execution on a
Single-core System
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Parallel Execution on a
Multicore System
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User Threads
Thread management done by userlevel threads library
Three primary thread libraries:
POSIX Pthreads
Win32 threads
Java threads
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Kernel Threads
Supported by the Kernel
Examples
Windows XP/2000
Solaris
Linux
Tru64 UNIX
Mac OS X
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Multithreading Models
ManytoOne
OnetoOne
ManytoMany
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Many-to-One
Many userlevel threads mapped to single kernel thread
Examples:
Solaris Green Threads
GNU Portable Threads
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Many-to-One Model
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One-to-One
Each userlevel thread maps to kernel thread
Examples
Windows NT/XP/2000
Linux
Solaris 9 and later
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One-to-one Model
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Many-to-Many Model
Allows many user level threads to be mapped to many kernel threads
Allows the operating system to create a sufficient number of kernel threads
Solaris prior to version 9
Windows NT/2000 with the ThreadFiber package
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Many-to-Many Model
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Two-level Model
Similar to M:M, except that it allows a user thread to be bound to kernel thread
Examples
IRIX
HPUX
Tru64 UNIX
Solaris 8 and earlier
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Two-level Model
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Thread Libraries
Thread library provides programmer with API for creating and managing threads
Two primary ways of implementing
Library entirely in user space
Kernellevel library supported by the OS
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Pthreads
May be provided either as userlevel or kernellevel
A POSIX standard (IEEE 1003.1c) API for thread creation and synchronization
API specifies behavior of the thread library, implementation is up to development of the library
Common in UNIX operating systems (Solaris, Linux, Mac OS X)
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Pthreads Example
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Pthreads Example (Cont.)
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