What is another name for snooping protocol?

The correct answer is Bus-snooping protocol.

Key Points

• Bus-snooping protocol is a method used in multiprocessor systems to maintain cache coherence.
  • In a multiprocessor system, each processor has its own cache memory.
  • Bus-snooping involves monitoring the communication (or bus) between processors to ensure that any changes in data are reflected across all caches.
  • This is crucial for maintaining data consistency in a system where multiple processors may access and modify shared data simultaneously.
  • When a processor writes data to its cache, the bus-snooping protocol ensures that other processors invalidate or update their caches accordingly.
  • Common protocols for bus-snooping include the MESI protocol (Modified, Exclusive, Shared, Invalid) and MOESI protocol (Modified, Owned, Exclusive, Shared, Invalid).

Additional Information

• Bus-snooping is an efficient way to achieve cache coherence without the need for complex directory-based protocols.
• It is commonly used in small to medium-scale multiprocessor systems where the overhead of snooping is manageable.
• While bus-snooping ensures data consistency, it can also lead to increased bus traffic, which may affect system performance.
• To optimize performance, some systems use a combination of snooping and directory-based protocols.