1. A method, implemented in a computer, for synchronizing access to a global resource by a plurality of processes executing on a computer system, the global resource including at least one of a disk drive or memory element, the method including: defining a global lock for the global resource where defining a global lock for the global resource includes: defining a first global lock data structure if the global lock is defined under a first operating system, and defining a second global lock data structure if the global lock is defined under a second operating system; defining a separate local instantiation of the global lock for each of a plurality of processes that will access the global resource of a plurality of processes executing on a single node of the computer system, there being a one-to-one relationship between processes that will access the global resource and local instantiations of the global lock, and wherein each of the plurality of processes is configured to access its separate local instantiation of the global lock to access the global resource.