Cache Architectures in Tightly Coupled Multiprocessors

M ultiprocessing is apopularway to increase system computing power beyond the limit of current uniprocessor technology. In a multiprocessor, multiple instruction streams execute in parallel and communicate or synchronize by passing messages or sharing memory. We can classify multiprocessor systems according to the logical and physical architecture of their memory systems. In systems with disjoint memories -also called distributed systems or multicomputers processors can access only their own memory, and they communicate by sending messages to each other. In systems with shared memory-also called sharedmemory systems or tightly coupled systems processors exchange data and synchronize through a global address space, accessible by all processors.