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OS configurations in multiprocessor systems

Short answer

Separate OS: each processor has its own OS and resources, simple but poor sharing. Master-slave: one processor runs the OS, others execute user programs, simple but master is a bottleneck. Symmetric (SMP): OS runs on any processor, each schedules from a common queue, best balance but complex.

Explain the various configurations of OS in a multiprocessor system.

The operating system for a multiprocessor can be organised in three ways:

  1. Separate operating system (separate kernel): each processor has its own OS and its own resources (memory, I/O). A processor is mostly independent and the processors co-operate loosely. It is simple and fault-tolerant but cannot share resources efficiently. It is suitable for loosely coupled systems.
  2. Master-slave: one processor (the master) always runs the OS and controls the system: it schedules, performs the I/O and system calls. The other processors (slaves) execute user programs and ask the master for services. It is simple and avoids resource conflicts, but the master can be a bottleneck and its failure stops the system.
  3. Symmetric (SMP, distributed) operating system: the OS can run on any processor, and each processor does its own scheduling from a common queue. The role of master floats. It gives the best balance and reliability, but is the most complex because of conflicts on shared tables; it needs careful locking.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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