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Modern Computer Architecture and Organization – Second Edition - Second Edition

You're reading from  Modern Computer Architecture and Organization – Second Edition - Second Edition

Product type Book
Published in May 2022
Publisher Packt
ISBN-13 9781803234519
Pages 666 pages
Edition 2nd Edition
Languages
Author (1):
Jim Ledin Jim Ledin
Profile icon Jim Ledin

Table of Contents (21) Chapters

Preface 1. Introducing Computer Architecture 2. Digital Logic 3. Processor Elements 4. Computer System Components 5. Hardware-Software Interface 6. Specialized Computing Domains 7. Processor and Memory Architectures 8. Performance-Enhancing Techniques 9. Specialized Processor Extensions 10. Modern Processor Architectures and Instruction Sets 11. The RISC-V Architecture and Instruction Set 12. Processor Virtualization 13. Domain-Specific Computer Architectures 14. Cybersecurity and Confidential Computing Architectures 15. Blockchain and Bitcoin Mining Architectures 16. Self-Driving Vehicle Architectures 17. Quantum Computing and Other Future Directions in Computer Architectures 18. Other Books You May Enjoy
19. Index
Appendix

Privileged processor modes

Most operating systems running on 32-bit and 64-bit processors control access to system resources using the concept of privilege levels. The primary reasons for managing access in this manner are to enhance system stability, prevent unauthorized interactions with system hardware, and prevent unauthorized access to data.

Privileged execution improves system stability by ensuring only trusted code is allowed to execute instructions that provide unrestricted access to resources such as processor configuration registers and I/O devices. The operating system kernel and related modules, including device drivers, require privileged access to perform their functions. Because any crash of a kernel process or a device driver is likely to halt the entire system immediately, these software components generally undergo a careful design process and rigorous testing before being released for general use.

Running the operating system in a privileged context prevents...

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