The banker’s algorithm is a resource allocation and deadlock avoidance algorithm that tests for safety by simulating the allocation for predetermined maximum possible amounts of all resources, then makes an “s-state” check to test for possible activities, before deciding whether allocation should be allowed to continue.

Following Data structures are used to implement the Banker’s Algorithm:

Let ‘n’ be the number of processes in the system and ‘m’ be the number of resources types.

Available : 

• It is a 1-d array of size ‘m’ indicating the number of available resources of each type.
• Available[ j ] = k means there are ‘k’ instances of resource type R_j

Max :

• It is a 2-d array of size ‘n*m’ that defines the maximum demand of each process in a system.
• Max[ i, j ] = k means process P_i may request at most ‘k’ instances of resource type R_j.

Allocation :

• It is a 2-d array of size ‘n*m’ that defines the number of resources of each type currently allocated to each process.
• Allocation[ i, j ] = k means process P_i is currently allocated ‘k’ instances of resource type R_j

Need :

•  It is a 2-d array of size ‘n*m’ that indicates the remaining resource need of each process.
• Need [ i,  j ] = k means process P_i currently allocated ‘k’ instances of resource type R_j
• Need [ i,  j ] = Max [ i,  j ] – Allocation [ i,  j ]

Allocation_i specifies the resources currently allocated to process P_i and Need_i specifies the additional resources that process P_i may still request to complete its task.

Banker’s algorithm consist of Safety algorithm and Resource request algorithm

Safety Algorithm

Resource-Request Algorithm

Let Request_i be the request array for process P_i. Request_i [j] = k means process P_i wants k instances of resource type R_j. When a request for resources is made by process P_i, the following actions are taken:

Example:

Considering a system with five processes P₀ through P₄ and three resources types A, B, C. Resource type A has 10 instances, B has 5 instances and type C has 7 instances. Suppose at time t₀ following snapshot of the system has been taken:

Question1. What will be the content of the Need matrix?

Need [i, j] = Max [i, j] – Allocation [i, j]

So, the content of Need Matrix is:

Question2.  Is the system in safe state? If Yes, then what is the safe sequence?

Applying the Safety algorithm on the given system,

Question3. What will happen if process P₁ requests one additional instance of resource type A and two instances of resource type C?

We must determine whether this new system state is safe. To do so, we again execute Safety algorithm on the above data structures.

Hence the new system state is safe, so we can immediately grant the request for process  P_{1 .}