Computers as Components, 2nd Edition

6.4 Interprocess Communication Mechanisms 329

msg msg

CPU 1 CPU 2

FIGURE 6.15

Message passing communication.

6.4.2 Message Passing

Message passing communication complements the shared memory model.As shown

in Figure 6.15, each communicating entity has its own message send/receive unit.

The message is not stored on the communications link, but rather at the senders/

receivers at the end points. In contrast,shared memory communication can be seen

as a memory block used as a communication device,in which all the data are stored

in the communication link/memory.

Applications in which units operate relatively autonomously are natural can-

didates for message ...