Making the Linux kernel easier to understand through comparison

This is Taku from the System Solutions Department

I recently took the LPIC201 exam, and among the questions covered, I would like to explain a section about the Linux kernel that was difficult but personally interesting to me, using a slightly different approach to understanding it

What is the Linux Kernel

First of all, the Linux kernel is the core part of the OS

• Process Management
• Memory Management
• Managing Devices
• File system access
• Hardware Interfacing
• System call processing
• Managing kernel modules

and plays a variety of other roles

However, the scale of the organization is large, and when you look at each person's role and job, it can sometimes seem difficult

 

we will use a comparison to get an idea of ​​how the Linux kernel works overall

It is easier to understand if you imagine it as something familiar to you,

This time I will compare it with an area that interests me, the central nervous system

I learned a little about neurophysiology when I was a student, which sparked my interest in the relationship between nerves, muscles, and movement, and coupled with my experience in track and field, I enjoy reading books on these topics

While looking at the bookshelves, I felt that there might be a link to the human central nervous system, so I would like to summarize it by comparing it (limited to the scope of questions in LPIC201)

What the Linux kernel and the central nervous system have in common

Linux kernel customization and brain plasticity

Linux kernel functionality can be adjusted by adding or removing kernel modules as needed

This means that the Linux kernel is customizable, adapting itself to new tasks through "training" (by adding new kernel modules)

This is similar to brain plasticity, which refers to the brain's ability to change when learning new things or experiencing new experiences

For example, when an athlete trains to improve their record and adapts their body to a faster pace, new neural circuits are formed and existing ones are strengthened

Kernel module management and neuroplasticity

Loading (activating) or unloading (deactivating) kernel modules

When new hardware is plugged in, the corresponding kernel module is loaded to recognize and use that hardware, similar to how new information enters the brain and new neural circuits are activated to process that information

For example, when a sprinter learns a new movement, neural circuits in the motor cortex, sensory cortex, and prefrontal cortex of the brain are activated and restructured

Device-kernel interaction and nervous system sensor functions

Hardware devices (keyboards, mice, sensors, etc.) are abstracted as special files that provide information to the Linux kernel

The way devices interact with the kernel and transmit information from the hardware to the system is similar to how our sensory organs transmit information from the environment to our brain

For example, a marathon runner gathers important information during the race through their sensory organs (sight, hearing, and touch) and paces themselves based on that information

Kernel behavior and nervous system awakening during system startup

The kernel controls the system's startup process, which is similar to the process by which our nervous system transitions into an alert state when we wake up

For example, when an athlete stands at the starting line of a 100m race, the kernel "wakes up" all parts of the system and prepares them for a new "race" (a computer task)

Differences between the Linux kernel and the central nervous system

Method of communication

Communication between processes and devices within the Linux kernel uses well-defined protocols and interfaces in the form of digital signals

In the human central nervous system, on the other hand, communication between neurons occurs through chemicals (neurotransmitters) and electrical signals

Repair and recovery

Linux kernel problems are fixed by debugging, patching, or upgrading the system

On the other hand, if the central nervous system is severely damaged, it often does not fully recover, and treatment options are limited

Abstraction of the senses

The Linux kernel receives data from input devices in the form of concrete digital data (such as RGB values) and processes that data according to programmed instructions

Meanwhile, the human central nervous system processes analog information received through the five senses and converts it into various abstract concepts (such as "color," "sound," and "scent." This process is extremely complex, involving experience, learning, memory, and emotion

summary

Although they may seem different at first glance, the underlying mechanisms are surprisingly similar, as they are both core components at the heart of operations

Comparing things can sometimes lead to unexpected realizations, so it might be interesting to try making a comparison like this once in a while