Multiprocessor cache synchronization: issues, innovations, evolution

Many options are possible in a cache synchronization (or consistency) scheme for a broadcast system. We clarify basic concepts, analyze the handling of shared data, and then describe a protocol that we are currently exploring. Finally, we analyze the evolution of options that have been proposed under write-in (or write-back) policy. We show how our protocol extends this evolution with new methods for efficient busy-wait locking, waiting, and unlocking. The lock scheme allows locking and unlocking to occur in zero time, eliminating the need for test-and-set. The scheme also integrates processor atomic read-modify-write instructions and programmer/compiler busy-wait-synchronized operations under the same mechanism. The wait scheme eliminates all unsuccessful retries from the bus, and allows a process to work while waiting.