Threads. SMP and microkernels Processes and threads The two characteristics of a process unit of resource ownership virtual address space for the process image I/O channels. devices files unit of dispatching/scheduling/execution This is the execution path through one or more modules It is also the entity that is being scheduled and dispatched by the os a process may have many dispatching units. a unit of dispatching is commonly called a thread or lightweight process New notion of process: unit of resource ownershI1 Threads, SMP, and MicroKernels • Processes and threads – The two characteristics of a process • unit of resource ownership – virtual address space for the process image – I/O channels, devices, files • unit of dispatching/scheduling/execution – This is the execution path through one or more modules. – It is also the entity that is being scheduled and dispatched by the OS. – A process may have many dispatching units. A unit of dispatching is commonly called a thread or lightweight process. – New notion of Process : unit of resource ownership