1
GATE CSE 2006
MCQ (Single Correct Answer)
+2
-0.6
Barrier is a synchronization construct where a set of processes synchronizes globally i.e. each process in the set arrives at the barrier and waits for all others to arrive and then all processes leave the barrier. Let the number of processes in the set be three and S be a binary semaphore with the usual P and V functions. Consider the following C implementation of a barrier with line numbers shown on left.
void barrier (void) { 
1: P(S); 
2: process_arrived++; 
3: V(S); 
4: while (process_arrived !=3); 
5: P(S); 
6: process_left++; 
7: if (process_left==3) { 
8: process_arrived = 0; 
9: process_left = 0; 
10: } 
11: V(S); 
} 
The variables process_arrived and process_left are shared among all processes and are initialized to zero. In a concurrent program all the three processes call the barrier function when they need to synchronize globally.
Which one of the following rectifies the problem in the implementation?
A
Lines 6 to 10 are simply replaced by process_arrived--
B
At the beginning of the barrier the first process to enter the barrier waits until process_arrived becomes zero before proceeding to execute P(S).
C
Context switch is disabled at the beginning of the barrier and re-enabled at the end.
D
The variable process_left is made private instead of shared
2
GATE CSE 2006
MCQ (Single Correct Answer)
+2
-0.6
The atomic fetch-and-set x, y instruction unconditionally sets the memory location x to 1 and fetches the old value of x n y without allowing any intervening access to the memory location x. consider the following implementation of P and V functions on a binary semaphore S.

void P (binary_semaphore *s) { 

   unsigned y; 
   unsigned *x = &(s->value); 
   
   do { 

     fetch-and-set x, y; 

   } while (y); 
} 

void V (binary_semaphore *s) { 

   S->value = 0; 

} 
Which one of the following is true?
A
The implementation may not work if context switching is disabled in P
B
Instead of using fetch-and–set, a pair of normal load/store can be used
C
The implementation of V is wrong
D
The code does not implement a binary semaphore
3
GATE CSE 2003
MCQ (Single Correct Answer)
+2
-0.6
Suppose we want to synchronize two concurrent processes P and Q using binary semaphores S and T. The code for the processes P and Q is shown below.

Process P:

while(1){
  W:
  Print '0';
  Print '0';
  X:
}

Process Q:

while(1){
  Y:
  Print '1';
  Print '1';
  Z:
}
Synchronization statements can be inserted only at points W, X, Y, and Z.

Which of the following will ensure that the output string never contains a substring of the form 01n0 or 10n1 where n is odd?

A
P(S) at W, V(S) at X, P(T) at Y, V(T) at Z, S and T initially 1
B
P(S) at W, V(T) at X, P(T) at Y, V(S) at Z, S and T initially 1
C
P(S) at W, V(S) at X, P(S) at Y, V(S) at Z, S initially 1
D
V(S) at W, V(T) at X, P(S) at Y, P(T) at Z, S and T initially 1
4
GATE CSE 2003
MCQ (Single Correct Answer)
+2
-0.6
Suppose we want to synchronize two concurrent processes P and Q using binary semaphores S and T. The code for the processes P and Q is shown below.

Process P:

while(1){
  W:
  Print '0';
  Print '0';
  X:
}

Process Q:

while(1){
  Y:
  Print '1';
  Print '1';
  Z:
}
Synchronization statements can be inserted only at points W, X, Y, and Z.

Which of the following will always lead to an output starting with 001100110011

A
P(A) at W, V(S) at X, P(T) at Y, V(T) at Z, S and T initially 1
B
P(A) at W, V(T) at X, P(T) at Y, V(S) at Z, S initially 1 and T initially 0
C
P(S) at W, V(T) at X, P(T) at Y,V(T) at Z, S and T initially 1
D
P(S) at W, V(S) at X, P(T) at Y, V(T) at Z, S initially 1 and T initially 0
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