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Introduction of Process Management

A process is a program in execution. For example, when we write a program in C or C++ and compile it, the compiler creates binary code. The original code and binary code are both programs. When we actually run the binary code, it becomes a process. A process is an ‘active’ entity instead of a program, which is considered a ‘passive’ entity. A single program can create many processes when run multiple times; for example, when we open a .exe or binary file multiple times, multiple instances begin (multiple processes are created). 

Process management includes various tools and techniques such as process mapping, process analysis, process improvement, process automation, and process control. By applying these tools and techniques, organizations can streamline their processes, eliminate waste, and improve productivity. Overall, process management is a critical aspect of modern business operations and can help organizations achieve their goals and stay competitive in today’s rapidly changing marketplace.

What is Process Management?

If the operating system supports multiple users then services under this are very important. In this regard, operating systems have to keep track of all the completed processes, Schedule them, and dispatch them one after another. However, the user should feel that he has full control of the CPU. Process management refers to the techniques and strategies used by organizations to design, monitor, and control their business processes to achieve their goals efficiently and effectively. It involves identifying the steps involved in completing a task, assessing the resources required for each step, and determining the best way to execute the task.

Process management can help organizations improve their operational efficiency, reduce costs, increase customer satisfaction, and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. It involves analyzing the performance of existing processes, identifying bottlenecks, and making changes to optimize the process flow.

Some of the systems call in this category are as follows.

How Does a Process Look Like in Memory? 

The process looks like

Explanation of Process 

Key Components of Process Management

Below are some key component of process management.

Importance of Process Management System

It is critical to comprehend the significance of process management for any manager overseeing a firm. It does more than just make workflows smooth. Process Management makes sure that every part of business operations moves as quickly as possible.

By implementing business processes management, we can avoid errors caused by inefficient human labor and cut down on time lost on repetitive operations. It also keeps data loss and process step errors at bay. Additionally, process management guarantees that resources are employed effectively, increasing the cost-effectiveness of our company. Process management not only makes business operations better, but it also makes sure that our procedures meet the needs of your clients. This raises income and improves consumer happiness.

Characteristics of a Process

A process has the following attributes.

All of the above attributes of a process are also known as the context of the process. Every process has its own process control block(PCB), i.e. each process will have a unique PCB. All of the above attributes are part of the PCB. 

States of Process

A process is in one of the following states: 

Context Switching of Process

The process of saving the context of one process and loading the context of another process is known as Context Switching. In simple terms, it is like loading and unloading the process from the running state to the ready state. 

When Does Context Switching Happen? 

1. When a high-priority process comes to a ready state (i.e. with higher priority than the running process). 
2. An Interrupt occurs.
3. User and kernel-mode switch (It is not necessary though) 
4. Preemptive CPU scheduling is used. 

Context Switch vs Mode Switch

A mode switch occurs when the CPU privilege level is changed, for example when a system call is made or a fault occurs. The kernel works in more a privileged mode than a standard user task. If a user process wants to access things that are only accessible to the kernel, a mode switch must occur. The currently executing process need not be changed during a mode switch. A mode switch typically occurs for a process context switch to occur. Only the kernel can cause a context switch. 

CPU-Bound vs I/O-Bound Processes

A CPU-bound process requires more CPU time or spends more time in the running state. An I/O-bound process requires more I/O time and less CPU time. An I/O-bound process spends more time in the waiting state. 

Process planning is an integral part of the process management operating system. It refers to the mechanism used by the operating system to determine which process to run next. The goal of process scheduling is to improve overall system performance by maximizing CPU utilization, minimizing execution time, and improving system response time. 

Process Scheduling Algorithms

The operating system can use different scheduling algorithms to schedule processes. Here are some  commonly used timing algorithms: 

Advantages of Process Management

Disadvantages of Process Management

GATE-CS-Questions on Process Management

Q.1: Which of the following need not necessarily be saved on a context switch between processes? (GATE-CS-2000) 

(A) General purpose registers 

(B) Translation lookaside buffer 

(C) Program counter 

(D) All of the above 

Answer: (B)

In a process context switch, the state of the first process must be saved somehow, so that when the scheduler gets back to the execution of the first process, it can restore this state and continue. The state of the process includes all the registers that the process may be using, especially the program counter, plus any other operating system-specific data that may be necessary. A translation look-aside buffer (TLB) is a CPU cache that memory management hardware uses to improve virtual address translation speed. A TLB has a fixed number of slots that contain page table entries, which map virtual addresses to physical addresses. On a context switch, some TLB entries can become invalid, since the virtual-to-physical mapping is different. The simplest strategy to deal with this is to completely flush the TLB. 

Q.2: The time taken to switch between user and kernel modes of execution is t1 while the time taken to switch between two processes is t2. Which of the following is TRUE? (GATE-CS-2011) 

(A) t1 > t2 

(B) t1 = t2 

(C) t1 < t2 

(D) nothing can be said about the relation between t1 and t2. 

Answer: (C)

Process switching involves a mode switch. Context switching can occur only in kernel mode. 

FAQs on Process Management

Q.1: Why process management is important?

Answers:

Process management is crucial for organizations as it enables them to identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and enhance productivity. By standardizing processes, eliminating bottlenecks, and implementing continuous improvement practices, organizations can achieve better results, meet customer expectations, and gain a competitive advantage.

Q.2: What is the main difference between process manager and memory manager?

Answer:

Processes in the system are manage by processor manager and also it is responsible for the sharing of the CPU. whereas, memory in the system is managed by memory manager and it is responsible also for allocation and deallocation of memory, virtual memory management, etc.

Q.3: What are process management examples?

Answer:

Some process management examples are: Eliminate redundant processes, automate workflows and Improve communication between multiple processes with appropriate business tools.


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