Amazon.com, Inc.
Reducing resource lock time for a virtual processing unit

Abstract:

Techniques for reducing the probability of spinlock and/or reducing the time that a virtual central processing unit (CPU) may hold a lock are provided. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes determining that an executing virtual CPU is holding a lock for exclusive use of a resource, and scheduling the executing virtual CPU to run for up to a specified time period before de-scheduling the executing virtual CPU. In one embodiment, the executing virtual CPU holding the lock writes a value to a register to indicate that the executing virtual CPU is holding the lock.