Multi-Access and Multi-Programming Environments
In resource management, it is essential to understand what other factors, other than hardware, can influence the system requirements.
Multi-Access Systems
Multi-Access Environment
An environment that allows multiple users to interact with a single computer system simultaneously.
Multi-access systems introduce problems such as:
- Resource contention: Multiple users competing for the same resources.
- Security risks: Unauthorised access to data or applications.
Potential solutions can be:
- Implementing strong access controls.
- Optimising resource allocation to prioritise critical tasks.
Unix is an example of an operating system that supports multi-access, allowing multiple users to run programs concurrently while maintaining data security.
Multi-Programming Environments
Multi-Programming Environment
An environment that allows multiple programs to be loaded into memory simultaneously, with the CPU switching between them.
However, they pose multiple challenges:
- Memory fragmentation: As programs are loaded and unloaded, memory can become fragmented, reducing efficiency.
- CPU bottlenecks: If all programs are CPU-intensive, performance can degrade.
Some improvements to consider:
- Use paging and virtual memory to manage memory efficiently.
- Implement scheduling algorithms to balance CPU load.
Multiprogramming maximises CPU utilisation by reducing idle time, but it requires careful management to avoid resource conflicts.
