Specifications

evice Driver Programming

Glossary-6

FDDI

Fiber Distributed Data Interface.

function

A kernel utility used in a driver. The term function is used interchangeably with the term

kernel function. The use of functions in a driver is analogous to the use of system calls

and library routines in a user-level program.

initialization entry points

Driver initialization routines that are executed during system initialization (for example,

init(D2), start(D2)).

interface

The set of data structures and functions supported by the UNIX kernel to be used by

device drivers.

interprocess communication (IPC)

A set of software-supported facilities that enable independent processes, running at the

same time, to share information through messages, semaphores, or shared memory.

interrupt level

Driver interrupt routines that are started when an interrupt is received from a hardware

device. The system accesses the interrupt vector table, determines the major number of

the device, and passes control to the appropriate interrupt routine.

interrupt priority level (IPL)

The interrupt priority level at which the device requests that the CPU call an interrupt pro-

cess. This priority can be overridden in the driver's interrupt routine for critical sections of

code with the spln(D3) function.

interrupt vector

Interrupts from a device are sent to the device's interrupt vector, activating the interrupt

entry point for the device.

The Internet Protocol, RFC 791, is the heart of the TCP/IP. IP provides the basic packet

delivery service on which TCP/IP networks are built.

ISO

International Organization for Standardization