Each chapter is fairly independent, like the Linux kernel subsystem that they each describe. An operating system has to work closely with the hardware system that acts as its foundations. The operating system needs certain services that can only be provided by the hardware. In order to fully understand the Linux operating system, you need to understand the basics of the underlying hardware. It looks at the tools that are used to build an operating system like Linux and it gives an overview of the aims and functions of an operating system.
Processes communicate with each other and with the kernel to coordinate their activities.
These interprocess communications mechanisms are described in Chapter IPC-chapter . Whilst the kernel has generic mechanisms and interfaces for handling interrupts, some of the interrupt handling details are hardware and architecture specific. Networking and Linux are terms that are almost synonymous. Its developers and users use the web to exchange information ideas, code and Linux itself is often used to support the networking needs of organizations. The following is a list of the typographical conventions used in this book.