lkml.org 
[lkml]   [1999]   [Sep]   [4]   [last100]   RSS Feed
Views: [wrap][no wrap]   [headers]  [forward] 
 
Messages in this thread
/
Date
From
SubjectRe: SMP linux help
Hi Nate.

> I have been wondering about the locking stuff for a while too.
> These are probably dumb questions but my OS terminology is not
> what it could be. (Is there a good reference somewhere?)

> * Does "lock the kernel" mean "prevent anyone else from
> executing any kernel code"?

I'm not 100% certain, but my understanding is that "lock the kernel"
means "prevent anybody else ON THIS PROCESSOR from executing any
kernel code", which is slightly different from your definition.

> * If so, what happens if some other CPU is already inside the
> kernel? Is there some mechanism to stop the other CPU??

Presumably not applicable - I believe that's what spinlocks are for,
and is also why both are needed in certain parts of the kernel.

Best wishes from Riley.

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| There is something frustrating about the quality and speed of Linux |
| development, ie., the quality is too high and the speed is too high, |
| in other words, I can implement this XXXX feature, but I bet someone |
| else has already done so and is just about to release their patch. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
* ftp://ftp.MemAlpha.cx/pub/rhw/Linux
* http://www.MemAlpha.cx/Linux/


-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/

\
 
 \ /
  Last update: 2005-03-22 13:53    [W:0.045 / U:1.932 seconds]
©2003-2020 Jasper Spaans|hosted at Digital Ocean and TransIP|Read the blog|Advertise on this site