Questions
Binary semaphore is a simplified version of counting semaphore. Can you explain this statement?
If this is so, why do many systems implement both kinds of semaphores? For example, Solaris has mutex_t (binary semaphore), and sema_t (counting semaphore).
What problem of semaphore does the monitor construct tries to solve?
What is the major problem with hardware mechanisms such as TEST&SET or Exchange?