multiaccess computer
multiaccess computer
[¦məl·tē′ak‚ses kəm‚pyüd·ər]Multiaccess computer
A computer system in which computational and data resources are made available simultaneously to a number of users. Users access the system through terminal devices, normally on an interactive or conversational basis. A multiaccess computer system may consist of only a single central processor connected directly to a number of terminals (that is, a star configuration), or it may consist of a number of processing systems which are distributed and interconnected with each other as well as with the user terminals.
The primary purpose of multiaccess computer systems is to share resources. The resources being shared may be simply the data-processing capabilities of the central processor, or they may be the programs and the data bases they utilize. The earliest examples of the first mode of sharing are the general-purpose, time-sharing, computational services. Examples of the latter mode are airlines reservation systems in which it is essential that all ticket agents have immediate access to current information.
System components
The major hardware components of a multiaccess computer system are terminals or data entry/display devices, communication lines to interconnect the terminals to the central processors, a central processor, and on-line mass storage. Terminals may be quite simple, providing only the capabilities for entering or displaying data, or they may have an appreciable amount of “local intelligence” to support simple operations like editing of the displayed text without requiring the involvement of the central processor. The interconnecting communication lines can be provided by utilizing the common-user telephone system or by obtaining leased, private lines from the telephone company or a specialized carrier.
System operating requirements
A multiaccess system must include the following functional capabilities: (1) multiline communications capabilities that will support simultaneous conversations with a reasonably large number of remote terminals; (2) concurrent execution of a number of programs with the ability to quickly switch from executing the program of one user to executing that of another; (3) ability to quickly locate and make available data stored on the mass storage devices while at the same time protecting such data from unauthorized access.
The ability of a system to support a number of simultaneous sessions with remote users is an extension of the capability commonly known as multiprogramming. In order to provide such service, certain hardware and software features should be available in the central processor. Primary among these is the ability to quickly switch from executing one program to another while protecting all programs from interference with one another.
Memory sharing is essential to the efficient operation of a multiaccess system. A popular memory management technique is the utilization of paging. The program is broken into a number of fixed-size increments called pages. Similarly, central memory is divided into segments of the same size called page frames. (Typical sizes for pages and page frames are 512 to 4096 bytes.) Under the concept known as demand paging, only those pages that are currently required by the program are loaded into central memory.
Software capabilities
The control software component of most interest to an interactive user is the command interpreter. This routine interacts directly with users, accepting requests for service and translating them into the internal form required by the remainder of the operating system, as well as controlling all interaction with the system.
The capability to page the memory as outlined above can be utilized to provide users with the impression that each has available a memory space much larger than is actually assigned. Such a system is said to provide a virtual memory environment. Similarly, the ability of the operating system to quickly change context from one executing program to another will result in users' receiving the impression that each has an individual processor. See Digital computer