Sage-Tips

What is difference between process context and interrupt context?

When executing a interrupt handler or bottom half, the kernel is in interrupt context. Recall That process context is the mode of operation the kernel are in while it’s executing on behalf of a process– For example, executing a system call or running a kernel thread.

What is process context in Linux?

1 Answer. 1. Process context is its current state. We need to save the context of the current running process so it can be resumed after the interrupt is handled. Process context is basically its current state (what is in its registers).

What is a thread context?

The thread context includes all the information the thread needs to seamlessly resume execution, including the thread’s set of CPU registers and stack. Multiple threads can run in the context of a process. All threads of a process share its virtual address space.

How do interrupts work in Linux?

An interrupt is an event that alters the normal execution flow of a program and can be generated by hardware devices or even by the CPU itself. When in interrupt occurs the current flow of execution is suspended and interrupt handler runs. After the interrupt handler runs the previous execution flow is resumed.

What is context of process in Unix?

The context of a process consists of the contents of its (user) address space and the contents of hardware registers and kernel data structures that relate to the process. Formally, the context of a process is the union of its user-level context, register context, and system-level context.

What are included in a process context?

The context of a process includes its address space, stack space, virtual address space, register set image (e.g. Program Counter (PC), Stack Pointer (SP), Instruction Register (IR), Program Status Word (PSW) and other general processor registers), updating profiling or accounting information, making a snapshot image …

What is the main difference between processes and threads?

Process means a program is in execution, whereas thread means a segment of a process. A Process is not Lightweight, whereas Threads are Lightweight. A Process takes more time to terminate, and the thread takes less time to terminate. Process takes more time for creation, whereas Thread takes less time for creation.

What is context switching in Linux?

A context switch is described as the kernel suspending execution of one process on the CPU and resuming execution of some other process that had previously been suspended. A context switch is required for every interrupt and every task that the scheduler picks. Verify the CPU, memory and network usage during this time.

When is the kernel in interrupt context?

When executing a interrupt handler or bottom half, the kernel is in interrupt context.Recall That process context is the mode of operation the kernel are in while it’s executing on behalf of a process– For example, executing a system call or running a kernel thread. In process context, the current macro points to the associated task.

What is the difference between process and thread in Linux?

Difference between Process and Thread: 1. Process means any program is in execution. Thread means segment of a process. 2. Process takes more time to terminate. Thread takes less time to terminate. 3. It takes more time for creation.

Process context is the current state of process, process context can be go into the sleep, preemptable, It perform time consumable task, acquiring and releasing mutex.

What is the difference between context switching and interrupt handling?

Process context switching and interrupt handling differs in a few major aspect – registers values + security: In context switching there is a complete swap of values, so that before the swap, all values are saved somewhere in memory, and after the swap, all the values are restored from another part of memory.