Final answer:
The primary issue with the working set page replacement algorithm is the overhead required to track page references, which can hinder system performance. Solutions include using approximation techniques and adaptive algorithms to manage the working set more efficiently.
Step-by-step explanation:
The working set page replacement algorithm is a strategy used to manage the pages held in a computer system's virtual memory. It defines a 'working set' for each process, which is a set of the pages that the process has referenced in the most recent period of activity. While theoretically practical, the primary problem with this algorithm is that it can be challenging to implement due to the need for keeping track of the time each page was last referenced, which requires substantial overhead and can slow down the system.
A potential solution to improve the efficiency of the working set algorithm could be to use approximation techniques. Instead of precisely tracking each page's last access time, an approximation could be used to determine the working set, reducing the overhead. Additionally, adaptive algorithms that dynamically adjust the size of the working set based on current workload and system conditions might be employed to optimize resource utilization.