symmetric multiprocessing

parallel (SMP) Two or more similar processors connected

via a high-bandwidth link and managed by one operatingsystem, where each processor has equal access to I/O devices.

This is in contrast to the "compute server" kind of

parallel processor where a front-end processor handles all

I/O to disks, terminals and local area network etc.

The processors are treated more or less equally, with

application programs able to run on any or perhaps all

processors in the system, interchangeably, at the operating

system's discretion. Simple MP usually involves assigning

each processor to a fixed task (such as managing the file

system), reserving the single main CPU for general tasks.

OS/2 currently supports so-called HMP (Hybrid

Multiprocessing), which provides some elements of symmetric

multiprocessing, using add-on IBM software called MP/2. OS/2

SMP was planned for release in late 1993.

(1995-03-19)