Scheduler Activations: Reading Question


In §2.2, in the paragraph that begins “In a tradition system, when there are…”, the authors describe an issue that can arise when user-level threads are implemented atop regular kernel-level threads. In particular, they describe a scenario where time could be wasted because a user-level thread is needlessly spin-waiting for a lock.

With scheduler activations, a user-level threading library can prevent this issue from occuring. How? Describe the events that occur in the kernel and the actions that must be taken by the library in user-space.


Submitting


Local Stanford students should write up their response on a sheet of paper that includes their name. The sheet of paper with the response should be submitted immediately before lecture.

SCPD students should write up their response in a text file named response.sched-activations.txt and upload it via the submission and grades page. You’ll need to sign in with your SUNetID to access the page. Ensure that the file is named exactly response.sched-activations.txt; other filenames will not be accepted. Responses will be accepted until one week after the corresponding paper’s lecture.

In either case, the response should be short, likely only a pithy paragraph in length.

Lecture

Tuesdays and Thursdays
4:30pm - 5:50pm
Gates B1

Office Hours

Dawson
Mondays
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Gates 314

Sergio
Mondays and Wednesdays
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Gates 288

Staff List

Dawson Engler
Instructor
Gates 314

Sergio Benitez
Instructor
Gates 288

Questions?

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