6.1. Kernel Virtual Memory Layout
The kernel, just like a process, uses virtual memory and uses the memory management unit to translate its virtual memory addresses into physical pages. The kernel has its own address space and corresponding virtual memory layout. The kernel's address space is constructed of address space segments, using the standard Solaris memory architecture framework.
Most of the kernel's memory is nonpageable, or “wired down.” The reason is that the kernel requires its memory to complete operating system tasks that could affect other memory-related data structures and, if the kernel had to take a page fault while performing a memory management task (or any other task that affected pages of memory), a deadlock could occur. ...
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