Explain the fork function, Operating System

Assignment Help:

Explain the Fork Function

Fork function causes a new process to be created. The calling progress is duplicated as an exact copy (called the child process) that differs only in process IDs and parent IDs. This function returns the chid's process ID to the parent process and a value of 0 to the child process. After that it is possible to distinguish the two process as a result to the fork () call. The child inherits many handles, IDs, and masks from the parent process. The fork is generally used in conjunction with exec () to load or spawn new process. First the fork is initiated to create a new process context, then exec () is used to overlay the child process with a new executable image. execl(execName, arg0,....) The exec family of functions changes the state of the calling process into a new process.

Once executed, exec will replace the currently executing process with one specified by execName. Optionally parameters may be passed to  the newly running process as variable-number command line arguments (arg0....)  This function is usually used to either replace or overlay  an existing running process or in conjunction with the fork () system call to initiate a new process. Once the fork () call is initiated to copy the process, the child process may in turn exec the new process to be executed. The original process is thus still in memory and active, and the child process has become a new executable image specified by exec Name.


Related Discussions:- Explain the fork function

What is the use of boot block, What is the use of boot block? For a com...

What is the use of boot block? For a computer to begin running when powered up or rebooted it requires having an initial program to run. This bootstrap program tends to be easy

Can dhcp provide support for mobile users, Question: a) The Dynamic Ho...

Question: a) The Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server is important for setting TCP/IP configuration, when there are a large number of clients on the network. How does D

What is direct access, Normal 0 false false false EN-IN...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

If a process is blocked, There is a process bloacked by a semaphore and no ...

There is a process bloacked by a semaphore and no other process in the ready queue, can the blocked process get back to the ready queue without the semsignal() function?

Advantage of minimizing the file space, Q. a number of systems automaticall...

Q. a number of systems automatically delete all user files when a user logs off or a job terminates unless the user explicitly requests that they be kept other systems keep all fil

What is meant by context switch, What is meant by context switch? Switc...

What is meant by context switch? Switching the CPU to another process needs saving the state of the old process and loading the saved state for the latest process. This task is

Explain the basic method of paging method, Explain the basic method of pagi...

Explain the basic method of paging method. Physical memory is divided into the fixed-sized blocks called frames. Logical memory is as well divided into blocks of the same size

Processes and programs, Processes and Programs Process is a dynamic...

Processes and Programs Process is a dynamic entity which is a program in execution. A process is a sequence of information executions. Process exists in a limited span of t

Describe the purpose of the checkpoint mechanism, Describe the purpose of t...

Describe the purpose of the checkpoint mechanism. How habitually must checkpoints be performed? Explain how the frequency of checkpoints affects: System performance while no

Explain gui based operating system, GUI - Short for Graphical User Interfa...

GUI - Short for Graphical User Interface a GUI Operating System contains icons and graphics and is commonly navigated by using a computer mouse. Below are some instances of GUI Op

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd