Linux Device Drivers, Chapter 1

Reading

All of Chapter 1

Study Questions

1. What is the role of the device driver in the Linux kernel?
2. What is the distinction between mechanism and policy?
3. Should the application or the device driver determine how to use the hardware?
4. (T or F) Different drivers can offer different capabilities for the same device?
5. What is a policy-free driver?
6. Be able to explain asynchronous versus synchronous operation in an OS context (search the internet for this).
7. Know the 5 major roles for the Linux kernel.
8. What is a loadable module?
9. Know the three basic classes of devices and know the characteristics for each.
10. Be able to explain the loopback interface (software or hardware). What is it (search the internet). What is the significance of the IP address 127.0.0.1?
11. Why is it important to treat data from user processes with suspicion when writing device drivers?