Computer System
Architecture & Environments
Computer System Architecture
Dual-Core Design with different
Processor chips
Multi-chip and multicore
Systems containing all chips
• containing multiple separate systems
Dual-Core Design with single Processor
chip
Multi-chip and multicore
Systems containing all chips
Computer-System Architecture
Most systems use a single general-purpose processor
• Most systems have special-purpose processors as well
Multiprocessors systems growing in use and importance
• Also known as parallel systems, tightly-coupled systems
• Advantages include:
1. Increased throughput
2. Economy of scale
3. Increased reliability – graceful degradation or fault tolerance
• Two types:
1. Asymmetric Multiprocessing – each processor is assigned
a special task.
2. Symmetric Multiprocessing – each processor performs all
tasks
Symmetric & Asymmetric
Multiprocessing Architecture
When a computer or device uses more than one CPU or Processor
it is called a Multi-Processing. Multi-processors are classified into
the following two types based on their nature of work.
1. Asymmetric
2. Symmetric
SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) is computer processing done by
multiple processors that share a common operating system (OS)
and memory.
In symmetric multiprocessing, the processors share the same
input/output (I/O) bus or data path.
A single copy of the OS is in charge of all the processors.
In asymmetric multiprocessing, only a master processor runs the
tasks of the operating system.
For example, AMP can be used in assigning specific tasks to
the CPU based on the priority and the importance of task
completion
Symmetric vs Asymmetric multiprocessing
The difference between symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessing is that:
• in symmetric multiprocessing the CPUs are identical and they share the
main memory
• while in asymmetric multiprocessing, the CPUs are not identical and they
follow slave, master relationship
Memory Access System
1. Uniform Memory Access
2. Non - Uniform Memory Access
Processors of Bus-based multiprocessors that experience the same –
uniform – access time to any memory module in the system are often
referred to as Uniform Memory Access (UMA) systems
Non-uniform memory access (NUMA) is a kind of memory architecture that
allows a processor faster access to contents of memory than other
traditional techniques.
Uniform Memory Access System
Non-Uniform Memory Access System
PC Motherboard
Distributed Systems
Collection of separate, possibly heterogeneous, systems networked
together
• Network is a communications path, TCP/IP most common
Local Area Network (LAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Network Operating System provides features between systems
across network
• Communication scheme allows systems to exchange messages
• Illusion of a single system
Computer System Environments
Computing Environments
Traditional
Mobile
Client Server
Peer-to-Peer
Cloud computing
Real-time Embedded
Traditional
Stand-alone general-purpose machines
But blurred as most systems interconnect with others (i.e.,
the Internet)
Portals provide web access to internal systems
Network computers (thin clients) are like Web terminals
Mobile computers interconnect via wireless networks
Networking becoming universal – even home systems use
firewalls to protect home computers from Internet attacks
Mobile
Handheld smartphones, tablets, etc.
What is the functional difference between them and a
“traditional” laptop?
Extra feature – more OS features (GPS)
Allows new types of apps like augmented reality
Use IEEE 802.11 wireless, or cellular data networks for
connectivity
Leaders are Apple iOS and Google Android
Client Server
Client-Server Computing
• Dumb terminals supplanted by smart PCs
• Many systems now servers, responding to requests generated by
clients
Compute-server system provides an interface to client to
request services (i.e., database)
File-server system provides interface for clients to store and
retrieve files
Peer-to-Peer
Another model of distributed system
P2P does not distinguish clients and servers
• Instead all nodes are considered peers
• May each act as client, server or both
• Node must join P2P network
Registers its service with central
lookup service on network, or
• Examples include Voice over IP (VoIP)
such as Skype
Cloud Computing
Delivers computing, storage, even apps as a service
across a network
Logical extension of virtualization because it uses
virtualization as the base for it functionality.
• Amazon EC2 has thousands of servers, millions of
virtual machines, petabytes of storage available
across the Internet, pay based on usage
Cloud Computing (Cont.)
Many types
• Public cloud – available via Internet to anyone willing to pay
• Private cloud – run by a company for the company’s own use
• Hybrid cloud – includes both public and private cloud components
• Software as a Service (SaaS) – one or more applications available
via the Internet (i.e., word processor, google doc)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) – software stack ready for
application use via the Internet (i.e., online compiler, a database
server)
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – servers or storage available
over Internet (i.e., storage available for backup use)
Cloud Computing (cont.)
Cloud computing environments composed of traditional Operating
Systems, plus Virtual Machines, plus cloud management tools
• Internet connectivity requires security like firewalls
• Load balancers spread traffic across multiple applications
Real-Time Embedded Systems
A real-time embedded system is a particular version of an
embedded system that works on the basis of real-time computing
represented by a dedicated type of operating system
Some of the real-time embedded systems examples are: Sound
System of a computer (Soft real-time system) Aircraft control system
(Hard real-time system)
Real-time embedded systems most established form of computers
• Vary considerable, special purpose, limited purpose OS, real-
time OS
