 Interprocess Communication (IPC)

 Definition: IPC is a mechanism that allows processes to communicate and

synchronize their actions. It is essential for processes that need to
cooperate and share data.
 Types of Processes:
 Independent Processes: These processes operate without sharing data
with other processes. They do not affect or are not affected by other
processes in the system.
 Cooperating Processes: These processes can affect each other’s
execution and share data. They require IPC to communicate effectively.
 Reasons for Cooperation:
 Information Sharing: Multiple applications may need access to the same
data, such as in collaborative software.
 Computation Speedup: Tasks can be divided into subtasks that run in
parallel, improving overall execution time.
 Modularity: Systems can be designed in a modular way, where different
functionalities are handled by separate processes or threads, enhancing
maintainability and scalability.
 Models of IPC
 Shared Memory:
 In this model, a designated region of memory is shared among cooperating
processes.
 Processes can read from and write to this shared memory area, allowing
for fast data exchange.
 However, it requires careful synchronization to prevent issues such as race
conditions, where multiple processes attempt to write to the same memory
location simultaneously.
 Message Passing:
 This model involves communication through messages exchanged
between processes, which can be particularly useful in distributed systems
where processes may reside on different machines.
 It provides a more structured way of communication, as processes do not
need to share memory space.
 The IPC facility typically provides two primary operations: sending and
receiving messages.
 Producer-Consumer Problem
 This is a classic synchronization problem that illustrates the challenges of
cooperating processes.
 Producer: A process that generates data or resources.
 Consumer: A process that uses or consumes the data produced.
 To facilitate this interaction, a buffer is used, which resides in shared
memory. The buffer can be either bounded (with a fixed size) or unbounded
(with no practical limit).
 Synchronization is crucial to ensure that the consumer does not attempt to
consume data that has not yet been produced.
 Message Passing Mechanisms
 Direct Communication: In this method, processes must explicitly name
each other when sending and receiving messages. This creates a direct
link between the two processes.
 Indirect Communication: Messages are sent to and received from
mailboxes (or ports), which act as intermediaries. This allows for more
flexible communication, as multiple processes can share a mailbox.
 Synchronization: Message passing can be either blocking (synchronous)
or non-blocking (asynchronous). In blocking communication, the sender or
receiver is halted until the operation is completed, while in non-blocking
communication, the sender can continue without waiting for the receiver.
 Buffering: Messages can be buffered in different ways:
 Zero Capacity: No messages are queued; the sender must wait for the
receiver.
 Bounded Capacity: A finite number of messages can be queued; the
sender waits if the buffer is full.
 Unbounded Capacity: An infinite number of messages can be queued; the
sender never waits.
 Client-Server Communication
 This model is fundamental in networked applications, where a server
provides resources or services to clients.
 Sockets: Sockets are endpoints for communication, defined by an IP
address and a port number. They facilitate the exchange of messages
between clients and servers.
 There are different types of sockets:
 Connection-oriented (TCP): Ensures reliable communication with error
checking and guarantees message delivery.
 Connectionless (UDP): Offers faster communication without the overhead
of establishing a connection, but does not guarantee delivery.
 MulticastSocket: Allows data to be sent to multiple recipients
simultaneously.

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms and

challenges associated with interprocess communication, highlighting the
importance of synchronization and the various models available for
effective process cooperation.

Important Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What type of process does not share data with other processes?
 A) Cooperating Process

 B) Independent Process
 C) Concurrent Process
 D) Parallel Process
 Answer: B
2. Which of the following is NOT a reason for cooperating processes?
 A) Information sharing

 B) Computation speedup
 C) Resource wastage
 D) Modularity
 Answer: C
3. In shared memory IPC, what must processes ensure?
 A) They do not communicate

 B) They do not write to the same location simultaneously

 C) They always read from the same location
 D) They do not use memory
 Answer: B
4. What is the main advantage of message passing over shared memory?
 A) Faster communication

 B) Easier implementation in distributed systems

 C) More complex synchronization
 D) Requires less memory
 Answer: B
5. In the producer-consumer problem, what is the role of the producer?
 A) To consume data

 B) To generate data
 C) To synchronize processes
 D) To manage memory
 Answer: B
6. What type of buffer allows the producer to never wait?
 A) Bounded buffer

 B) Unbounded buffer
 C) Zero capacity buffer
 D) Shared buffer
 Answer: B
7. Which of the following is a characteristic of direct communication?
 A) Messages are sent to mailboxes

 B) Processes must name each other explicitly

 C) Links can be associated with multiple processes
 D) Messages are sent anonymously
 Answer: B
8. In indirect communication, what is required for processes to communicate?
 A) Shared memory

 B) A shared mailbox
 C) Direct links
 D) Synchronous operations
 Answer: B
9. What type of message passing is considered synchronous?
 A) Non-blocking send

 B) Blocking send
 C) Asynchronous receive
 D) Non-blocking receive
 Answer: B
10. Which of the following socket types is connection-oriented?
 A) UDP

 B) TCP
 C) MulticastSocket
 D) None of the above
 Answer: B
11. What is the purpose of a socket in client-server communication?
 A) To store data

 B) To serve as an endpoint for communication

 C) To manage memory
 D) To execute processes
 Answer: B
12. Which of the following is a property of a communication link in direct
communication?
 A) Can be associated with more than two processes

 B) Links are established automatically

 C) A link may be unidirectional or bi-directional
 D) Both B and C
 Answer: D
13. What is the main function of the producer in the producer-consumer
problem?
 A) To manage the buffer

 B) To generate data for the consumer

 C) To synchronize the consumer
 D) To delete old data
 Answer: B
14. Which IPC model is typically faster for data exchange?
 A) Message Passing

 B) Shared Memory
 C) Both are equally fast
 D) None of the above
 Answer: B
15. What is a key feature of message passing in a distributed system?
 A) Processes share the same memory space

 B) Communication occurs through shared variables

 C) Processes can reside on different machines
 D) All messages are sent synchronously
 Answer: C