catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  symmetric multiprocessing
       
           (SMP) Two or more similar processors connected
          via a high-{bandwidth link and managed by one operating
          system, where each processor has equal access to I/O devices.
          This is in contrast to the "{compute server" kind of
          parallel processor where a front-end processor handles all
          I/O to disks, terminals and local area network etc.
       
          The processors are treated more or less equally, with
          application programs able to run on any or perhaps all
          processors in the system, interchangeably, at the operating
          system's discretion.  Simple MP usually involves assigning
          each processor to a fixed task (such as managing the file
          system), reserving the single main CPU for general tasks.
       
          OS/2 currently supports so-called HMP (Hybrid
          Multiprocessing), which provides some elements of symmetric
          multiprocessing, using add-on IBM software called MP/2.  OS/2
          SMP was planned for release in late 1993.
       
          (1995-03-19)