"Linux internals simplified" is a book which discusses the basics of Linux kernel internals in a code driven approach. It picks the major subsystems of the kernel which are important, and tries to simplify its internal working and data structures. As such, this book is aimed at engineers who wish to start learning about the Linux kernel.This book starts with the basic steps to acquire the Linux kernel code. It then shows ways of customizing the build options and lastly kernel compilation. Next it looks at a number of hacking tools which will help one to debug and trace in a live Linux system. Practical examples of ftrace, kprobes and crash tool are discussed. These tools are useful in trying to understand the way the Linux system works. Chapter 3 discusses the details of a running process in a Linux system. It touches topics such as address spaces of a running process, user and kernel spaces, system calls, Linux process descriptor, Linux process creation, and so on. This chapter builds a foundation of a program in execution in the Linux system.Once the reader knows about the running processes, chapter 4 discusses about the Linux process scheduling subsystem. This chapter discusses different data structures and code paths of the Linux scheduler, which controls the scheduling of processes in the Linux system. Chapter 5 discusses Interrupts, which play a significant role in the Linux operating system. The chapter discusses edge and level triggered interrupts, interrupt handlers and their registration, shared interrupt handlers, and so on. It also shows the ftrace of the do_irq function.Chapter 6 discusses the signal subsystem. It starts with a little introduction of the design of the signal subsystem. It then traces the code execution of delivering and handling of signals in the Linux kernel. The chapter then discusses signal overloading and how it is performed, while exploring the kernel code which handles this. Chapter 7 covers Linux synchronization primitives, and why they are needed. It shows the detailed implementation of primitives like atomic variables, spinlocks, semaphores and mutexes in the Linux kernel.Chapter 8 discusses various ways of Linux kernel memory allocation. It discusses Buddy allocator, Resource map allocator and Slab allocator. It discusses various APIs used for these allocators (alloc_page/s, kmem_cache_alloc, kmalloc etc.). It also discusses how user space malloc results in memory allocation in the Linux kernel.Chapter 9 discusses the Linux dynamic modules, Linux character driver framework, internal functions which are used while creating a character driver, UDEV events and IOCTL interface. It also discusses Linux device model. It discusses example of bus, device and device_driver components. It illustrates device model when used in PCI BUS. Chapter 10 covers the subsystem related to block IOs. It starts with an introduction of filesystem and its purpose. It then traces the path an IO takes, right from the "write()" system call, to the moment it gets written to the disk. The chapter covers basic data structures and design elements while going down the IO stack.

To thoroughly understand what makes Linux tick and why it's so efficient, you need to delve deep into the heart of the operating system--into the Linux kernel itself. The kernel is Linux--in the case of the Linux operating system, it's the only bit of software to which the term "Linux" applies. The kernel handles all the requests or completed I/O operations and determines which programs will share its processing time, and in what order. Responsible for the sophisticated memory management of the whole system, the Linux kernel is the force behind the legendary Linux efficiency. The new edition of Understanding the Linux Kernel takes you on a guided tour through the most significant data structures, many algorithms, and programming tricks used in the kernel. Probing beyond the superficial features, the authors offer valuable insights to people who want to know how things really work inside their machine. Relevant segments of code are dissected and discussed line by line. The book covers more than just the functioning of the code, it explains the theoretical underpinnings for why Linux does things the way it does. The new edition of the book has been updated to cover version 2.4 of the kernel, which is quite different from version 2.2: the virtual memory system is entirely new, support for multiprocessor systems is improved, and whole new classes of hardware devices have been added. The authors explore each new feature in detail. Other topics in the book include: Memory management including file buffering, process swapping, and Direct memory Access (DMA) The Virtual Filesystem and the Second Extended Filesystem Process creation and scheduling Signals, interrupts, and the essential interfaces to device drivers Timing Synchronization in the kernel Interprocess Communication (IPC) Program execution Understanding the Linux Kernel, Second Edition will acquaint you with all the inner workings of Linux, but is more than just an academic exercise. You'll learn what conditions bring out Linux's best performance, and you'll see how it meets the challenge of providing good system response during process scheduling, file access, and memory management in a wide variety of environments. If knowledge is power, then this book will help you make the most of your Linux system.

Device drivers literally drive everything you're interested in--disks, monitors, keyboards, modems--everything outside the computer chip and memory. And writing device drivers is one of the few areas of programming for the Linux operating system that calls for unique, Linux-specific knowledge. For years now, programmers have relied on the classic Linux Device Drivers from O'Reilly to master this critical subject. Now in its third edition, this bestselling guide provides all the information you'll need to write drivers for a wide range of devices.Over the years the book has helped countless programmers learn: how to support computer peripherals under the Linux operating system how to develop and write software for new hardware under Linux the basics of Linux operation even if they are not expecting to write a driver The new edition of Linux Device Drivers is better than ever. The book covers all the significant changes to Version 2.6 of the Linux kernel, which simplifies many activities, and contains subtle new features that can make a driver both more efficient and more flexible. Readers will find new chapters on important types of drivers not covered previously, such as consoles, USB drivers, and more.Best of all, you don't have to be a kernel hacker to understand and enjoy this book. All you need is an understanding of the C programming language and some background in Unix system calls. And for maximum ease-of-use, the book uses full-featured examples that you can compile and run without special hardware.Today Linux holds fast as the most rapidly growing segment of the computer market and continues to win over enthusiastic adherents in many application areas. With this increasing support, Linux is now absolutely mainstream, and viewed as a solid platform for embedded systems. If you're writing device drivers, you'll want this book. In fact, you'll wonder how drivers are ever written without it.

Write software that draws directly on services offered by the Linux kernel and core system libraries. With this comprehensive book, Linux kernel contributor Robert Love provides you with a tutorial on Linux system programming, a reference manual on Linux system calls, and an insider’s guide to writing smarter, faster code. Love clearly distinguishes between POSIX standard functions and special services offered only by Linux. With a new chapter on multithreading, this updated and expanded edition provides an in-depth look at Linux from both a theoretical and applied perspective over a wide range of programming topics, including: A Linux kernel, C library, and C compiler overview Basic I/O operations, such as reading from and writing to files Advanced I/O interfaces, memory mappings, and optimization techniques The family of system calls for basic process management Advanced process management, including real-time processes Thread concepts, multithreaded programming, and Pthreads File and directory management Interfaces for allocating memory and optimizing memory access Basic and advanced signal interfaces, and their role on the system Clock management, including POSIX clocks and high-resolution timers

This is an expert guide to the 2.6 Linux Kernel's most important component: the Virtual Memory Manager.

One of the fastest ways to learn Linux is with this perennial favorite Eight previous top-selling editions of Linux For Dummies can't be wrong. If you've been wanting to migrate to Linux, this book is the best way to get there. Written in easy-to-follow, everyday terms, Linux For Dummies 9th Edition gets you started by concentrating on two distributions of Linux that beginners love: the Ubuntu LiveCD distribution and the gOS Linux distribution, which comes pre-installed on Everex computers. The book also covers the full Fedora distribution. Linux is an open-source operating system and a low-cost or free alternative to Microsoft Windows; of numerous distributions of Linux, this book covers Ubuntu Linux, Fedora Core Linux, and gOS Linux, and includes them on the DVD. Install new open source software via Synaptic or RPM package managers Use free software to browse the Web, listen to music, read e-mail, edit photos, and even run Windows in a virtualized environment Get acquainted with the Linux command line If you want to get a solid foundation in Linux, this popular, accessible book is for you. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Find an introduction to the architecture, concepts and algorithms of the Linux kernel in Professional Linux Kernel Architecture, a guide to the kernel sources and large number of connections among subsystems. Find an introduction to the relevant structures and functions exported by the kernel to userland, understand the theoretical and conceptual aspects of the Linux kernel and Unix derivatives, and gain a deeper understanding of the kernel. Learn how to reduce the vast amount of information contained in the kernel sources and obtain the skills necessary to understand the kernel sources.