Final answer:
Process synchronization can be achieved through both hardware and software mechanisms. The hardware level uses atomic instructions for locks, while the software level uses algorithms for coordination.
Step-by-step explanation:
Process synchronization is a critical aspect of operating systems used to manage processes and ensure that shared resources are used without conflicts. It can be achieved using mechanisms at different levels:
- Hardware level synchronization includes using hardware instructions that are atomic, meaning they complete in a single step without interruption. These are essential for implementing locks and semaphores in multiprocessor systems.
- Software level synchronization employs algorithms to manage process coordination and resource sharing without the direct support of hardware. Examples include Peterson's algorithm and the Bakery algorithm.
The correct answer to the question is (c) both (a) and (b), meaning process synchronization can be done on both the hardware level and the software level.