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Saving state and invoking the kernel function

Below is a slightly simplified version of the Linux code that is called to handle a system call trap.

The first part of the code (starting at system_call) saves the registers of the user process and plays around with the memory management registers so that the kernel's internal data is accessible. It also finds the process table entry for this user process.

The trap instruction that caused the entry to the kernel has a parameter that specifies which system call is being invoked. The code starting at do_call checks to see if this number is in range, and then calls the function associated with this system call number. When this function returns, the return value (stored in the eax register) is saved in the place where all the other user registers are stored. As a result, when control is transferred from the kernel back to the user process, the return value will be in the right place.

After the system call is complete, it is time to return to the user process. There are two choices at this point: (1) either return directly the the user process that made the system call or (2) go through the dispatcher to select the next process to run. ret_from_sys_call

system_call: ##----Save orig_eax: system call number # used to distinguish process that entered# kernel via syscall from one that entered # via some other interrupt# pushl %eax# #----Save the user's registers# pushl %espushl %ds pushl %eaxpushl %ebp pushl %edipushl %esi pushl %edxpushl %ecx pushl %ebx# #----Set up the memory segment registers so that the kernel's# data segment can be accessed. #movl $(__KERNEL_DS),%edx movl %edx,%dsmovl %edx,%es ##----Load pointer to task structure in EBX. The task structure # resides below the 8KB per-process kernel stack.# movl $-8192, %ebxandl %esp, %ebx ##----Check to see if system call number is a valid one, then # look-up the address of the kernel function that handles this# system call. #do_call: cmpl $(NR_syscalls),%eaxjae badsys call *SYMBOL_NAME(sys_call_table)(,%eax,4)# Put return value in EAX of saved user context movl %eax,EAX(%esp)# #----If we can return directly to the user, then do so, else go to# the dispatcher to select another process to run. #ret_from_sys_call: cli # Block interrupts; iret effectively re-enables themcmpl $0,need_resched(%ebx) jne reschedule# restore user context (including data segments) popl %ebxpopl %ecx popl %edxpopl %esi popl %edipopl %ebp popl %eaxpopl %ds popl %esaddl $4,%esp # ignore orig_eax iretreschedule: call SYMBOL_NAME(schedule)jmp ret_from_sys_call

Independent and cooperating processes

Independent process

One that is independent of the rest of the universe.

  • Its state is not shared in any way by any other process.
  • Deterministic: input state alone determines results.
  • Reproducible.
  • Can stop and restart with no bad effects (only time varies). Example: program that sums the integers from 1 to i (input).

Questions & Answers

differentiate between demand and supply giving examples
Lambiv Reply
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Lambiv
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Lambiv
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WARKISA
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appreciation
Eliyee
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In economics, a perfect market refers to a theoretical construct where all participants have perfect information, goods are homogenous, there are no barriers to entry or exit, and prices are determined solely by supply and demand. It's an idealized model used for analysis,
Ezea
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Shukri Reply
other things being equal
AI-Robot
When MP₁ becomes negative, TP start to decline. Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of lab
Kelo
Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of labour (APL) and marginal product of labour (MPL)
Kelo
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Shukri
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Shukri
what is monopoly mean?
Habtamu Reply
What is different between quantity demand and demand?
Shukri Reply
Quantity demanded refers to the specific amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a give price and within a specific time period. Demand, on the other hand, is a broader concept that encompasses the entire relationship between price and quantity demanded
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Economic growth as an increase in the production and consumption of goods and services within an economy.but Economic development as a broader concept that encompasses not only economic growth but also social & human well being.
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Jabir
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Awais Reply
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Asui
it is a curve that we get after connecting the pareto optimal combinations of two consumers after their mutually beneficial trade offs
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In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities, where neither p
Cornelius
In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities,
Cornelius
Suppose a consumer consuming two commodities X and Y has The following utility function u=X0.4 Y0.6. If the price of the X and Y are 2 and 3 respectively and income Constraint is birr 50. A,Calculate quantities of x and y which maximize utility. B,Calculate value of Lagrange multiplier. C,Calculate quantities of X and Y consumed with a given price. D,alculate optimum level of output .
Feyisa Reply
Answer
Feyisa
c
Jabir
the market for lemon has 10 potential consumers, each having an individual demand curve p=101-10Qi, where p is price in dollar's per cup and Qi is the number of cups demanded per week by the i th consumer.Find the market demand curve using algebra. Draw an individual demand curve and the market dema
Gsbwnw Reply
suppose the production function is given by ( L, K)=L¼K¾.assuming capital is fixed find APL and MPL. consider the following short run production function:Q=6L²-0.4L³ a) find the value of L that maximizes output b)find the value of L that maximizes marginal product
Abdureman
types of unemployment
Yomi Reply
What is the difference between perfect competition and monopolistic competition?
Mohammed
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Source:  OpenStax, Operating systems. OpenStax CNX. Aug 13, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10785/1.2
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