Unix on Shared Memory Multiprocessors
The Unix kernel has many critical regions, or sections of code, where a data structure is being created or updated. These regions must not be interrupted by a higher-priority interrupt service routine. A uniprocessor Unix kernel manages these regions by setting the interrupt mask to a high value while executing in the region. On a multiprocessor, there are other processors with their own interrupt masks, so a different technique must be used to manage critical regions.
The Spin Lock or Mutex
One key capability in shared memory, multiprocessor systems is the ability to perform interprocessor synchronization by means of atomic load/store or swap instructions. All SPARC chips have an instruction called LDSTUB ...
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