Brand-new edition of comprehensive Linux kernel reference-40% of material revised! -- Now updated throughout to cover Linux 2.4. -- Explains how the Linux operating system actually works and shows how to program the Linux kernel. -- Introduces the kernel sources and describes basic algorithms and data structures, such as scheduling and task structure. Linux Kernel Internals, Third Edition is written for anybody who wants to learn more about Linux. It explains the inner mechanisms of Linux from process scheduling to memory management and file systems, and reveals the structure of the kernel-the heart of the Linux operating system. This book is targeted to all developers who want to know how the Linux kernel interface is implemented, and helps readers to understand the operating system mechanisms better and to optimize Linux applications. The reader will learn how a modern multi-tasking operating system works and will be able to understand how the open Linux sources work. This Third Edition includes coverage of memory management, file systems, device drivers, interprocess communication, networking, and symmetric multiprocessing (SMP). For those who intend to write kernel code, or just want to know how the kernel of a Linux system works. The accompanying CD-ROM contains the Linux kernel and its complete source code. So, every user can start experimenting with Linux by buying the book.