---
title: Linux Kernel, syscalls
date: 2023-11-11T01:22:30Z
slug: linux-kernel-sys-fork
description: ""
---

### sys_fork()

```asm
.align 2
_sys_fork:
  call _find_empty_process
  testl %eax,%eax
  js 1f
  push %gs
  pushl %esi
  pushl %edi
  pushl %ebp
  pushl %eax
  call _copy_process
  addl $20,%esp
1:  ret
```

#### `FUNCTION find_empty_process()`

```assembly
A:
  IF ++last_pid < 0
    last_pid = 1
  FOR i : 0 -> NR_TASKS
    IF task[i] && task[i].pid == last_pid
      GOTO A
  FOR i : 1 -> NR_TASKS
    IF NOT task[i]
      RETURN i
  RETURN -1
```



1. Set last_pid to 1 or more. 

2. From taskid from 0 to max_tasks, if task exists and pid is last_pid then increases pid and again.
3. From taskid from 1 to max_tasks,  if tasks not exists, return.

-> It just iterates through tasks and find last taskid linearly.



#### `FUNCTION copy_process`

```
<- nr, EBP, EDI, ESI, GS, EBX~EDX, CS~FS, EIP, EFLAGS, ESP, SS
-> INT
```

```assembly
TASK_STRUCT P
INT I
FILE F

P = (TASK_STRUCT)(GET_FREE_PAGE())

IF NOT P
  RET ERR

SET P 
  START_TIME  = RUNNING
  PID         = LAST_PID
  FATHER      = CURRENT_PID
  COUNTER     = PRIORITY
  START_TIME  = jiffies
  SIGNAL, ALARM, LEADER, UTIME, STIME, CUTIME, CSDTIME, BACK_LINK = 0

  SET TSS
    BACK_LINK = 0
    ESP0      = PAGE_SIZE + ADDR(P)
    SS0       = 0x10
    EAX       = 0
    ES ~ GS   = 0xFFFF
    LDT       = _LDT(nr)

    EIP, EFLAGS   = ARGUMENT 
    ECX ~ EDI     = ARGUMENT

    TRACR_BITMAP  = 0x80000000
  
COPY_MEM (nr, p)
IF <-
  FREE_PAGE ADDR(P)
  RET ERR

FOR i : 0 ~ NR_OPEN
  IF 
    f = P.filp[i]
  THEN
    INCR f.f_count 1

IF 
  CURRENT.PWD
THEN 
  INCR CURRENT.PWD.i_count 1

IF 
  CURRENT.ROOT
THEN
  INCR CURRENT.ROOT.i_count 1

SET_TSS_DESC <- (GDT + nr/2 + FIRST_TSS_ENTRY) , P.TSS
SET_LDT_DESC <- (GDT + nr/2 + FIRST_LDT_ENTRY) , P.LDT

task(nr) <- p

RET last_pid
```



- "nr" passed is the index of the new task in the task array, where each element corresponds to a process slot.
- fork() copies the parent's kernel context, as well as general registers and segment selectors required for a new process to run in user space.
- It creates a new task structure from a new free page and sets up default values and certain parameters inherited from the parent, such as process ID, priority, and execution times.
- Then it copies memory regions from the parent to the new process, referred to by "nr," which is the index of the new process in the task array.
- Changes the parent process's working directory (PWD) and root directory reference counters, incrementing them by 1 to reflect the new child process now also using these resources.
- Sets the Task State Segment (TSS) and Local Descriptor Table (LDT) entries, which are x86-specific structures used for task switching and memory segmentation, respectively.
- TSS holds information about the task's stack for privilege level changes and also the hardware context when a task switch occurs.
- LDT is a segment descriptor table that stores descriptors for local segments, giving a task its own set of segment registers.
- Finally, it assigns the newly created task structure, p, to the task array at index "nr." This effectively makes the new task available for scheduling.

### `_sys_fork()`
"sys_fork" finds an empty process ID using the search loop in `_find_empty_process`, then it invokes `_copy_process` to clone the parent's kernel context to the new process. This sets up a complete environment for the new process to run independently from the parent, but initially as a nearly identical copy.