Threads

What is the primary difference between processes and threads within an operating system?

• A process can hold one or more threads, with each thread taking turns to execute within the process environment.

• Processes and threads are interchangeable in an operating system.
• Threads have their own memory space and resources, while processes share the same memory space and resources.
• Processes and threads have the same memory space and resources.

What is multi-threading in the context of operating systems?

• Executing multiple processes simultaneously
• The OS's ability to support multiple concurrent paths of execution within a single process.

• Sequential execution of threads one after another
• Running a single thread at a time

Describe the types of threading models based on the relationship between processes and threads.

• One-to-Many
• Many-to-None
• One-to-None
• Models include one process with one thread, one process with multiple threads, and multiple processes each with multiple threads.

What are the key execution states shared between processes and threads?

• Running, Ready, Blocked
• Sleeping
• Terminated
• Waiting

What are User Level Threads and their characteristics?

• User Level Threads are managed by the kernel and not the user-level threads library.
• User Level Threads are slower to create and manage compared to kernel-level threads.
• User Level Threads are heavyweight and consume more system resources.
• ULTs are created by users, with all thread management done by the application, and the kernel is not aware of these threads.

What defines a Kernel Level Thread?

• Managed by the user application
• Runs in user space
• KLTs are system-created, can be scheduled on different cores, and involve the kernel maintaining context information for both processes and threads.

• Not controlled by the operating system kernel

What is a combined approach to thread management?

• Using a combination of processes and threads
• Thread creation is done in user space, with the bulk of scheduling and synchronization handled by the application, as seen in Solaris.

• Using only user-level threads
• Using only kernel-level threads

List the thread states as defined in Windows operating systems.

• Ready, Standby, Running, Waiting, Transition, Terminated.

• Ready, Running, Halted, Waiting.

• Ready, Suspended, Running, Halted, Transition, Terminated.

• Ready, Active, Halted, Suspended, Terminated.

What is SMP Support and how does it function in Windows?

• SMP Support in Windows is used for audio processing only.
• SMP Support allows Windows to run on a single processor efficiently.
• SMP Support in Windows is a feature that enhances screen resolution.
• Supports simultaneous multi-threading across processors, with soft and hard affinity influencing thread scheduling and processor allocation.

What unique thread-related concepts does Solaris employ to manage execution?

• Heavyweight processes and user threads
• Processes, User-level threads, Lightweight processes, and Kernel threads.

• Multi-threaded processes and fiber threads
• Parallel processes and distributed threads