Interleave - Alternating
Enhanced Definition
In z/OS, interleaving refers to the operating system's technique of executing or processing multiple independent tasks, programs, or I/O operations by rapidly alternating between them. This creates the illusion of simultaneous execution on a single processor or shared I/O path, maximizing resource utilization and improving system throughput and responsiveness.
Key Characteristics
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- Time-Slicing and Dispatching: The z/OS dispatcher rapidly switches the CPU among ready tasks based on their dispatching priority and allocated time slices, ensuring fair and efficient CPU sharing.
- I/O Concurrency: Multiple I/O requests from different tasks are initiated and processed concurrently by the channel subsystem and control units, with the CPU alternating between I/O initiation and program execution.