Windows Kernel Documentation

Windows Kernel Architecture

This section provides comprehensive documentation on the Windows Kernel, the core component of the Windows operating system. It manages system resources, schedules processes and threads, handles memory, and provides a secure and stable environment for applications.

Key Concepts

Understanding the following core concepts is essential for working with the Windows Kernel:

Executive: The highest layer of the kernel, providing core services like I/O, object management, process and thread management, virtual memory, and security.
Kernel Mode vs. User Mode: The fundamental separation of privileges and access levels for code execution.
System Calls: The interface between user-mode applications and kernel-mode services.
Device Drivers: Software components that enable the kernel to interact with hardware devices.
Object Manager: Manages system objects such as processes, threads, files, and synchronization primitives.

Kernel Components

The Windows Kernel is composed of several key components, each responsible for specific system functions:

NT Kernel & Executive Services: The heart of the OS, handling fundamental operations.
HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer): Bridges the gap between hardware-specific code and the kernel.
Kernel-Mode Drivers: Loadable modules that control hardware devices.
Environment Subsystems: Provide interfaces for different operating system environments (e.g., Win32).

Process and Thread Management

Explore how the kernel manages the execution of applications and their constituent threads, including scheduling algorithms, context switching, and inter-process communication (IPC).

Memory Management

Learn about the virtual memory manager, page faults, memory allocation, and the mechanisms the kernel uses to manage system and user memory efficiently.

I/O System

Understand the I/O Request Packet (IRP), driver stacks, and how the kernel handles input and output operations for various devices.