Deep dive into Linux kernel architecture and implementation
The Linux kernel is a monolithic, modular operating system kernel that serves as the foundation for numerous operating systems. Its architecture includes several key components: 1) Process management - Uses task_struct for process control, supports cloning via fork() and copy-on-write. 2) Memory management - Implements virtual memory with paging, uses buddy system for physical memory allocation. 3) Virtual File System (VFS) - Provides abstraction layer for multiple filesystem types. 4) Network stack - Implements TCP/IP protocol suite with socket interface. 5) Device drivers - Loadable kernel modules for hardware support. 6) Interrupt handling - Bottom-half/top-half model for efficient interrupt processing. Linux uses a symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) model and supports numerous architectures. The kernel is highly configurable with thousands of compile-time options. Understanding Linux internals is essential for system programmers, kernel developers, and performance engineers working with Linux-based systems.