Rinnakkaisjärjestelmät

Rinnakkaisjärjestelmät, known in English as parallel systems, refer to computer systems designed to perform multiple computations simultaneously. This is achieved through the use of multiple processing units, such as CPUs or cores, that can work on different parts of a problem or entirely separate problems at the same time. The primary goal of parallel systems is to increase computational speed and efficiency, allowing for the solution of complex problems that would be impractical or impossible for a single processor to handle in a reasonable timeframe.

There are several types of parallel systems. Shared memory systems allow all processors to access a common memory space, making data sharing relatively simple but potentially introducing contention issues. Distributed memory systems, on the other hand, have separate memory for each processor, and processors communicate by passing messages. Hybrid systems combine aspects of both shared and distributed memory.

Parallel systems are crucial in a wide range of applications, including scientific simulations (e.g., weather forecasting, molecular dynamics), artificial intelligence and machine learning, data analysis, high-performance computing, and complex engineering designs. The development and implementation of efficient parallel algorithms and software are key challenges in this field, as is managing the complexity of coordinating multiple processors and ensuring data consistency. The field continues to evolve with advancements in hardware architecture and parallel programming models.