Parallel Computer Architecture

Shared Memory Multiprocessors

The most prevalent form of parallel architecture is the multiprocessor of small to

moderate scale that provides a global physical address space and symmetric access to

all of main memory from any processor, often called a symmetric multiprocessor or

SMR Every processor has its own cache, and all the processors and memory modules

attach to the same interconnect, which is usually a shared bus. SMPs dominate the

server market and are becoming more common on the desktop. They are also impor-

tant building blocks for larger-scale systems. The efficient sharing of resources, such

as memory and processors, makes these