Linux® Kernel Primer, The: A Top-Down Approach for x86 and PowerPC Architectures

Chapter 3. Processes: The Principal Model of Execution

In this chapter

• 3.1 Introducing Our Program 80

• 3.2 Process Descriptor 82

• 3.3 Process Creation: fork(), vfork(), and clone() System Calls 101

• 3.4 Process Lifespan 109

• 3.5 Process Termination 116

• 3.6 Keeping Track of Processes: Basic Scheduler Construction 124

• 3.7 Wait Queues 133

• 3.8 Asynchronous Execution Flow 142

• Summary 173

• Project: current System Variable 174

• Exercises 177

The term process, defined here as the basic unit of execution of a program, is perhaps the most important concept to understand when learning how an operating system works. It is essential to understand the difference between a program and a process. Therefore, we refer to a program as an executable file that contains a set of functions, ...