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Articles by Arnab Chakraborty
Page 169 of 377
Advanced local procedure call (ALPC)
Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC) is a high-performance message-passing mechanism in Windows that enables efficient inter-process communication (IPC) between client and server processes. ALPC replaced the older Local Procedure Call (LPC) mechanism and provides optimized communication channels with multiple message-passing techniques based on data size requirements. How ALPC Works The ALPC mechanism follows a client-server communication model. The server process publishes a globally visible connection-port object that clients can access to request services. When a client needs services from a subsystem, it opens a handle to the server's connection-port and sends a connection request. ...
Read MoreFile System Structure
A file system is a method of organizing and managing files on storage devices such as hard disks or flash drives. It provides a logical structure to physical storage space, allowing users and applications to access and manipulate files efficiently. The file system serves as an interface between the operating system and storage hardware, translating user requests into low-level storage operations. Components of File System A file system consists of several key components that work together to manage data storage − Files − Basic storage units containing data such as text, images, audio, or executable code ...
Read MoreActions taken by a kernel to context-switch between kernel-level threads.
Context Switching involves storing the context or state of a process or thread so that it can be reloaded when required and execution can be resumed from the same point as earlier. This is a feature of a multitasking operating system and allows a single CPU to be shared by multiple processes and threads. When the kernel needs to switch between kernel-level threads, it performs a series of specific actions to ensure proper state preservation and restoration. Unlike user-level thread switching, kernel-level thread context switching requires direct kernel intervention and system-level operations. Actions Taken by Kernel for Context ...
Read MoreProgramming challenges in multicore systems
The trend towards multicore systems continues to place pressure on system designers and application programmers to make better use of multiple computing cores. Designers of operating systems must write programming algorithms that utilize multiple processor cores to enable parallel execution as shown below − Parallel Execution on a Multicore System CPU Package Core 1 Task A Task B ...
Read MoreMultithreaded using the Pthreads API
Pthreads refers to the POSIX standard (IEEE 1003.1c) that defines an API for thread creation and synchronization. This is a specification for thread behavior, not a specific implementation, allowing operating system designers to implement it according to their requirements. The Pthreads API provides a standardized way to create multithreaded programs in C, enabling concurrent execution of multiple threads within a single process. Each thread shares the same memory space but can execute different parts of the program simultaneously. How Pthreads Work In a Pthreads program, separate threads begin execution in specified functions. The main thread starts in ...
Read Moremd5sum Command in Linux with Examples
The md5sum command in Linux generates MD5 hash values (checksums) for files or text input. MD5 (Message Digest Algorithm 5) is a cryptographic hash function that produces a 128-bit hash value, typically represented as a 32-character hexadecimal string. This command is essential for verifying file integrity and detecting changes in data. The MD5 algorithm creates a unique fingerprint for data. Even a single character change results in a completely different hash value, making it useful for detecting file corruption or unauthorized modifications. Basic Syntax md5sum [OPTION] [FILE]... md5sum [OPTION] --check [FILE] Examples Generating ...
Read MoreWhat is user-defined signal handler?
User-defined signal handlers are custom functions that programmers write to override the default behavior when specific signals occur in a program. Signals are software interrupts sent to indicate important events, and they can be handled in two ways: using default signal handlers or user-defined signal handlers. Types of Signal Handlers Default signal handler − Built-in system behavior for each signal type User-defined signal handler − Custom function written by the programmer to handle specific signals User-defined signal handlers allow programs to customize their response to signals rather than relying on default system actions. Different signals ...
Read MoreWhat is default signal handler?
Signals are software interrupts sent to a program to indicate that an important event has occurred. Every signal in Unix-like operating systems can be handled by one of two possible handlers: A default signal handler A user-defined signal handler A Default signal handler is a predefined handler associated with every signal that the kernel automatically invokes when a process receives that signal. When a program doesn't specify custom handling for a particular signal, the operating system uses the default handler to perform a predetermined action. Types of Default Actions Default signal handlers can perform ...
Read MoreWhat is Thread cancellation?
Terminating a thread before it has completed is called thread cancellation. For example, if multiple threads are concurrently searching through a database and one thread returns the result, the remaining threads might be canceled. Another situation occurs when a user presses a stop button on a web browser to halt page loading. Often, a web page loads using several threads — each image is loaded in a separate thread. When the stop button is pressed, all threads loading the page are canceled. A thread that is to be canceled is often referred to as the target thread. Cancellation of ...
Read MoreThread-local storage (TLS)
Thread-local storage (TLS) is a mechanism that allows each thread to maintain its own separate copy of certain data variables. While threads in a process normally share the same memory space, TLS creates private storage areas that are unique to each individual thread, enabling thread-specific data management without the need for explicit synchronization. How Thread-Local Storage Works In a typical multithreaded environment, all threads share the process's global variables and heap memory. However, with TLS, the system creates separate instances of specified variables for each thread. When a thread accesses a TLS variable, it automatically gets its own ...
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