Mastering Linux Kernel Development

do_fork() and copy_process()

All of the process/thread creation calls discussed so far invoke different system calls (except create_thread) to step into kernel mode. All of those system calls in turn converge into the common kernel function _do_fork(), which is invoked with distinct CLONE_* flags. do_fork() internally falls back on copy_process() to complete the task. The following figure sums up the call sequence for process creation:

/* kernel/fork.c *//* * Create a kernel thread. */

pid_t kernel_thread(int (*fn)(void *), void *arg, unsigned long flags){ return _do_fork(flags|CLONE_VM|CLONE_UNTRACED, (unsigned long)fn, (unsigned long)arg, NULL, NULL, 0);}/* sys_fork: create a child process by duplicating caller */SYSCALL_DEFINE0(fork)