Linux/Unix - Protected Mode / Real Mode

Author

Protected Mode / Real Mode

rkim

2002-03-14, 3:57 pm

Hi,
Can anyone clarify what is the difference between protected mode and real mode? I think Linux runs in prtoected mode and DOS in real mode. Am I wrong?

The VMS Kid

2002-03-15, 6:53 am

Protected mode is a type of memory utilization available on Intel 286+ chips. In protected mode, you have the following features:

1) Protection: Each program can be allocated a certain section of memory. Other programs can't use this memory, so each program is protected from uppity programs.

2) extended memory : Enables a single program to access more than 640K of memory.

3) virtual memory : Expands the address space using HDD space.

multitasking : Can do more than one task at once.

MS-DOS operating system was not designed to take advantage of these features, some DOS programs can run in protected mode using special drivers. Most respectable operating systems like Unix have built-in support for protected mode, although Windows now includes it as well.

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