Subj : Re: Question
To   : comp.programming
From : Willem
Date : Wed Sep 28 2005 10:40 pm

Bill wrote:
)     Ok is the pager the system's loader?

No, the pager is the part of the virtual memory manager that writes pages
of memory from ram to the swap disk/partition/file that aren't used
frequently, and loads pages of memory from the swap into ram when they
are accessed.  Advanced ones can also do 'memory mapping' of files, which
means that that file is treaded as virtual memory.

IIRC, the kernel just mmaps the executable into the new process,
and then starts a new thread running somewhere in that mmap-ed memory.

The virtual memory manager notices that the CPU wants access to some
virtual memory that's currently on disk, so it tells the pager to load
that page into ram.


SaSW, Willem
-- 
Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for any of the statements
            made in the above text. For all I know I might be
            drugged or something..
            No I'm not paranoid. You all think I'm paranoid, don't you !
#EOT

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