8 – Multiprocessor Systems

Publisher Summary Many embedded designs, especially in industrial or commercial systems, use multiple processors. The design of multiprocessor systems allows computing power to be distributed among different processors for redundancy, speed, modularity, or to simplify coding. This chapter focuses on systems in which multiple processors are used for distributed control of real-time events. Multiple processors might be used in a project for a number of reasons. One reason is modularity. For example, a particular processor-based subsystem needs to be installed only if a particular option is installed. Distributed processors may simplify coding. Instead of one huge, complex, difficult-to-debug-and-maintain piece of code, the software is broken into much more manageable independent functions on different central processing units (CPUs).