Understanding the Linux Kernel (Second Edition)

Author: Daniel P. Bovet
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: To thoroughly understand the internal structure of GNU/Linux and why it works so well across various systems, you need to delve into the heart of the operating system—the Linux kernel itself. The kernel handles various requests or completed I/O operations and determines which programs will share its processing time and in what order. The Linux kernel shoulders the responsibility of managing the entire system in China, being the source of Linux's remarkable efficiency. This book will guide you through the major data structures, algorithms, and programming techniques used in the Linux kernel, discussing important features of the Intel platform. However, the content covered in this book is not limited to the role of code; it also elucidates the theoretical foundations of why Linux operates the way it does. The book covers Linux 2.4, including:
● Networking
● Memory Management (including file buffers, process swapping, and direct memory access)
● Virtual File System layer and second and third extended file systems
● Process creation and scheduling
● Signals, interrupts, and the main interface for device drivers
● Timing
● Kernel synchronization
● Inter-process communication
● Program execution
This book will familiarize readers with all the inner workings of Linux, but it is not just an academic exercise. Readers will also learn under what conditions Linux achieves its best performance. You will see how Linux meets the fast response requirements for process scheduling, file access, and memory management in various environments.