Chapter 1. Fundamental IOS Software Architecture

This chapter covers the following key topics:

  • Operating Systems Basics

  • IOS Architecture Overview

  • Memory Organization

  • IOS Processes

  • IOS Kernel

  • Packet Buffer Management

  • Device Drivers

If you were naming the most popular and widely used computer operating systems, which ones would you choose? Most likely, your list would contain names like UNIX, MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, or even IBM's MVS for mainframes. These are all well-known operating systems—you might even be using one on a computer at home. Now, think for a minute; are there any others? Would your list contain Cisco IOS? No, it probably wouldn't, even though IOS is one of the most widely deployed operating systems in use today.

Unlike the general-purpose ...

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