Architecture of Cisco IOS software

Cisco IOS might not  applications like ms word,multimedia softwares. It is mainly for switching data packet and concentrated on switching packets quickly and efficiently.

Multitasking,threads,scheduling preemptive scheduling ,virtual memory support are the genral compilation of all modern operating system as well as cisco IOS. But Cisco IOS specialized for  processing switching packets.

The architecture of Cisco IOS software is given below

There are five major sections

Processes -  routing protocols, switchin packets, thread running and system management

Kernel - interaction between hardware device and I/O management. Resource management  to process with  memory resources

Packet buffers - holding the packets in memory buffers being switched

Device Drivers - involves in efficient packet switching,. Interface between IOS process, the kernel and the hardware

Fast Switching Software- To packet switching function with optimization