Linux architecture: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:07, 24 September 2006

Revision as of 09:57, 20 October 2006

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== Kernel -or- System Software ==

The '''Linux kernel''' includes true multitasking, [[virtual memory]], [[shared library|shared libraries]], demand loading, shared [[copy-on-write]] executables, proper [[memory management]], and [[TCP/IP]] [[computer network|networking]].

Today Linux is a module-loading [[monolithic kernel]]. [[Device driver]]s and kernel extensions typically run in [[ring 0]], with full access to the hardware, although some run in [[user space]]. Unlike standard monolithic kernels, device drivers are easily configured as [[module (Linux)|modules]], and loaded or unloaded while running the system. Also unlike standard monolithic kernels, device drivers can be pre-empted under certain conditions. This latter feature was added to handle [[hardware interrupt|hardware interrupts]]s correctly, and to improve support for [[symmetric multiprocessing]]. Preemption also improves latency, increasing responsiveness and making Linux more suitable for real-time applications.

The complete source code of various versions of the Linux kernel can be browsed at http://lxr.linux.no .

The complete source code of the latest versions of the Linux kernel can be downloaded from http://www.kernel.org .

[[Category:Linux]]

==See also==

* [[Linux]]

* [[Linux kernel]]

[[Category:Linux]]