OS interfaces
Last updated
Last updated
Share programs.
Abstract low-level hardware, so program need not concern what disk is being used.
Provide ways for programs to interact.
OS defines interfaces to be simple and narrow. Combine programs to provide much generality.
When a process needs to invoke a kernel service, it invokes a system call. The system call enters the kernel, the kernel performs the service and returns.
Kernel uses CPU’s hardware protection mechanisms to ensure each process in user space can only access its own memory. When a user program invokes a system call, the hardware raises the privilege level and starts executing a pre-arranged function in kernel.
The shell is an ordinary program that reads commands from the user and executes them. In our journey, we will be implement a new shell ourself (see lab2).