5. Interprocess Communication (IPC)

Mechanism for processes to communicate and to synchronize their actions.
  1. Message system – processes communicate with each other without resorting to shared variables.
  2. IPC facility provides two operations:
  • send(message) –message size fixed or variable
  • receive(message)

3. If P and Q wish to communicate, they need to:

  • establish a communication link between them
  • exchange messages via send/receiven Implementation of communication link
  • physical (e.g., shared memory, hardware bus) considered later
  • logical (e.g., logical properties) now