Understanding the Linux Kernel, Third Edition

These are the comments needed 2 understand Linux code, very helpful & thorough. The authors are knowledgeable, & explain the material well.

I had originally intended 2 read this book 2 knock out two birds with one stone. I wanted 2 learn Operating System theory & specifically how it was implemented in Linux. I quickly learned, however, that I would of been much better suited if I already had a good OS theory background. But I pressed on & finally couldn't take it anymore & had 2 put it down & pick up Linux Kernel Development by Robert Love. I began reading Linux Kernel Development concurrently with this book & it is definitely what I would recommend 4 those new 2 OS internals.

After using both of those books I started 2 get a good foothold on the kernel. And Understanding the Linux Kernel quickly becomes like a good novel you can't put down. I did like how it was x86-centric because abstract is nice & all but sometimes it helps 2 see how things actually are done. However some might not like that. I did not like how it threw a bunch of detail at you without completely unifying everything.. But thats why I read Linux Kernel Development concurrently. All & all this book is definitely worth it 4 those who want 2 know about the Linux kernel & now as I use my GNU/Linux operating system I can't help & point out 2 myself whats going on under the hood.

I purchased this book as a complimentary book 4 the regular OS text books, so far the coverage is very good & helpful.

Awesome book...things are very well explained & the subject-matter is covered well. Surely recommend this book 2 someone!!

ULK provides well structured & clear introduction 2 the 2.6 linux kernel. I would recommend this book 2 anyone who wants 2 get started on kernel code. ULK also provides an insight into the modularity present within the kernel (eg. doubly linked list macros). Thus, it should help amateur programmers 2 develop strong coding skills in addition 2 understanding OS kernel design.

In order 2 thoroughly understand what makes Linux tick & why it works so well on a wide variety of systems, you need 2 delve deep into the heart of the kernel. The kernel handles all interactions between the CPU & the external world, & determines which programs will share processor time, in what order. It manages limited memory so well that hundreds of processes can share the system efficiently, & expertly organizes data transfers so that the CPU isn't kept waiting any longer than necessary 4 the relatively slow disks.

The third edition of "Understanding the Linux Kernel" takes you on a guided tour of the most significant data structures, algorithms, & programming tricks used in the kernel. Probing beyond superficial features, the authors offer valuable insights 2 people who want 2 know how things really work inside their machine. Important Intel-specific features are discussed. Relevant segments of code are dissected line by line. But the book covers more than just the functioning of the code; it explains the theoretical underpinnings of why Linux does things the way it does.

This edition of the book covers Version 2.6, which has seen significant changes 2 nearly every kernel subsystem, particularly in the areas of memory management & block devices. The book focuses on the following topics:

Memory management, including file buffering, process swapping, & Direct memory Access (DMA)

The Virtual Filesystem layer & the Second & Third Extended Filesystems

Process creation & scheduling

Signals, interrupts, & the essential interfaces 2 device drivers

Timing

Synchronization within the kernel

Interprocess Communication (IPC)

Program execution

"Understanding the Linux Kernel" will acquaint you with all the inner workings of Linux, but it's more than just an academic exercise. You'll learn what conditions bring out Linux's best performance, & you'll see how it meets the challenge of providing good system response during process scheduling, file access, & memory management in a wide variety of environments. This book will help you make the most of your Linux system.