Understanding Kernel

The Linux kernel provides the basic services and device drivers used by all other programs running on a Linux OS system as we can see in the diagram.

The kernel is the part of the Operating System(OS) that interacts directly with the hardware of computer through device drivers that are built into the kernel. It provides set of services that can be used by programs insulating these programs from the underlying hardware.

Major functions of kernel are:

1. to manage computer memory

2.to control acces to the computer

3.to maintain file system

4.to handle interrupts

5.to handel errors

6.to perform input and output services(which allows computers to interact with terminals storage devices and printers) and

7.to allocate the resources of the computer(such as CPU and input/output devices) among users.