Question

Describes the actions taken by a kernel to switch context between processes

Answer 1

The kernel switches context between processes by saving the current state of the running process and loading the state of the next process. It involves saving CPU registers, memory mappings, and other important state information. With this mechanism, the kernel can effectively manage multiple processes and share CPU resources among them.

Step-by-step explanation:

When switching context between processes, the kernel performs a series of actions to save the current state of the running process and load the state of the next process to be executed.

1. The kernel saves the contents of CPU registers, such as the program counter and stack pointer, belonging to the current process.
2. It saves other important state information, such as memory mappings, open file descriptors, and process-specific data structures.
3. Next, the kernel loads the saved state of the next process, including the CPU registers and other state information.
4. The kernel updates the memory mappings and other resources to reflect the new process being executed.
5. Finally, the kernel hands over control to the new process by restoring the saved state and jumping to the location indicated by the program counter.

This context switching mechanism allows the kernel to efficiently manage multiple processes, ensuring fairness and sharing of CPU resources among them.