Abstract: One of processors connected effectively to a system is allocated to a master processor and the other remaining processors are allocated to slave processors. Each processor compares the self processor number of a processor number register and the processor number of the other processor of a processor effective register. For example, when the self processor number is smallest as compared with the other processor numbers, it is recognized that the self processor is a master processor. A master initialization diagnosing process after completion of the allocation is monitored by the slave processor. When an abnormality of the master processor is recognized, a degeneration to disconnect the master processor from the system is executed and is again reconstructed by the allocating process of master/slaves. Even when an abnormality occurs in the master processor, the operation in which the system was degenerated can be executed until the minimum construction in which two or more processors normally operate.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system capable of sharing instruction predecode information is disclosed. By storing predecode information as it is calculated, and then allowing other processors in the system to access the information, subsequent prefetches of instructions are made without repeating predecode calculations. The multiprocessor system may comprise a bus connecting at least two microprocessors together. The microprocessors may be configured to generate predecode information for a plurality of instructions and then share the predecode information with other microprocessors coupled to the bus. The predecode information may be stored in a single storage location or in multiple locations, and the information may be stored internally within the microprocessors or externally. The microprocessors in the system may be configured to search for predecode information corresponding to instructions being accessed.