Features

Multi-threading: The Future

By Staff Reporter

James Gosling, the inventor of JAVA has predicted that multi-threading will set off technological ripples Java has been known for.

Multi-threading is the ability of a program or an operating system to manage its use by more than one application at a time and even to manage multiple requests by the same user without having to possess multiple copies of the program running on the computer. With a number of devices connected to networks and various applications being run on those devices efficient and powerful computing systems are required to handle multi-threading.

Gosling emphasized that server-component architecture (SCA) and enterprise applications for mobile phones will play a key role in the future. The big challenge is to find out how people can connect and manage web services, which are increasingly gaining importance in enterprises.
Recently, Sun Microsystems introduced its UltraSPARC T1 processor with CoolThreads technology, setting a new industry standard for performance and innovation. It was previously known as 'Niagara', using patented CoolThreads chip multi-threading technology that takes advantage of the threaded nature of Solaris 10.

This new processor offers unparalleled transactional throughput and is designed to save customers millions of dollars on high data centre power, cooling and space costs. It has 32 systems on one SPARC-based chip that has eight cores – each having four threads – for a total of 32 threads that work simultaneously, so many tasks are performed in parallel at one go. The chip saves energy while increasing system throughput and employs Sun’s CMT processor architecture to keep pace with the multi-threaded application environment of the Internet.

"Apart from the UltraSPARC T1 processor, Sun has also put the Java Enterprise System and the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) together to support multi-threading" says Andrew Lim, managing director of Sun Microsystems (Thailand).


print	save	email	comment