17: Function of vm_area_struct

pravjot

17: Function of vm_area_struct

What is the `vm_area_struct`, and how does it contribute to the process's memory management? Explain its key fields and role during the `execve()` system call.

gaurav133232

vm_area_struct represents a contigous region of virtual memory in the process's address space.

Key fields in vm_area_struct:

Start and End Addresses: The start and end of the memory region.
Permissions: Access permissions for the region.
Backing File: The file that backs the memory region, for e.g. an executable file or shared library.
Next and Previous: Pointers to adjacent memory regions.

Role during execve:

The vm_area_struct entries are created during execve for each segment of the new executable.
These entries are linked into the mm_struct to describe the new memory layout.

17: Function of vm_area_struct

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories