The Linux Kernel: Intro to System Calls

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DevynCJohnson

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Series Index - http://www.linux.org/threads/linux-kernel-reading-guide.5384/


Many GNU/Linux users have probably heard of systems calls. A system call is a special function/command that a program uses to communicate with the kernel of the operating system. The Linux kernel has a variety of system calls that it recognizes. Learning these system calls helps people to understand how GNU/Linux works. Even general/mainstream Linux users may find it interesting to know just how complicated the system is even though the user cannot see the complexity.

NOTE: Kernel calls is another name for system calls and so is syscall.

There are about six kinds of system calls (depending on how you want to classify them). These six are process control, information maintenance, communication, file management, memory management, and device management. "Information maintenance" is referring to system time, attributes of files and devices, and many other sets of information. "Communication" refers to networking, data transfer, attachment/detachment of remote devices.

When the Linux kernel receives a system call, it executes the command in kernel mode (privileged execution mode). This privileged mode is commonly called ring-0 (pronounced “ring zero”).

NOTE: Some people get interrupts and system calls mixed up. A system call is a command while an interrupt is an event that causes the CPU to stop the current task and tend to the event. Hardware interrupts are called “interrupts” and software interrupts are called “traps” or “exceptions”.

Some of you may be wondering, when an application is programmed, how does it get the code for the standard system calls. Well, the system calls come in the GNU C Library which is also called glibc. This is the library used for applications that run on systems using the Linux kernel and Hurd kernel or any GNU userland. Some derivatives are used in applications running on other kernels. For instance, after some major tweaking, glibc works on the NetBSD, OpenSolaris, FreeBSD kernel. FreeBSD and NetBSD typically use their own libc called "BSD libc". The modified glibc mentioned is used in the Debian system that uses the FreeBSD and NetBSD kernel (Debian GNU/FreeBSD and Debian GNU/NetBSD). Some other glibc derivatives and alternatives include

  • μClibc - This libc is used in mobile devices using the Linux kernel (except Android).
  • Bionic - Used in the Android OS. Bionic is based on BSD libc.
  • dietlibc - This is a lightweight libc for embedded systems.
  • Embedded glibc (EGLIBC) - The libc used in embedded systems is a tweaked/optimized version of the standard glibc.
  • klibc (Kernel libc) - The Linux kernel uses klibc while starting up. Once the kernel is loaded, it then uses glibc. However, not all distros use klibc.
  • Newlib - Used in embedded systems.

These libraries provide various headers for C/C++ programming. The system calls are put in the code by importing a library as seen below. All of the system calls are not in one header, so an application only contains the system calls that it needs (unless there are some extra calls in the imported library that the program does not use).

Code:
#include <HEADER.h>

One reason why applications compiled for one operating system do not work on another is because the application uses different system calls. Wine is a compatibility layer (not an emulator) that allows Windows software to work on GNU/Linux and other Unix and Unix-like systems. This works because the Windows system calls are converted to the system calls that Linux recognizes (there are other mechanisms that make Windows applications work). If all systems used the same system calls, then some applications would be more cross-platform (some or many exceptions would exist). Think about source code. An application can be compiled on Linux, Solaris, and FreeBSD, but the binaries would only work on the operating system type on which the application was compiled.

Winelib is a libc used to compile with source code that only works on Windows systems. However, Winelib makes the compiled program work on Unix and Unix-like systems. Beware, Winelib is not perfect and may not work with some programs. Also, Winelib only works with 32-bit software. Usually, to use Winelib, the make-file for the source code needs some tweaking.

In the next articles, all of the system calls will be discussed.

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