Linux Architecture Article Index for
Linux
Website Links For
Linux
 

Information About

Linux Architecture




The Linux kernel includes true multitasking, Virtual Memory , Shared Libraries , demand loading, shared Copy-on-write executables, proper Memory Management , and TCP/IP 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 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 Interrupts 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 .


SEE ALSO