Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari: A Classic Book on UNIX Device Driver Development PDF
Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari PDF Free Download
If you are interested in learning how to write device drivers for the UNIX operating system, you might want to check out Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari. This book is a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about designing and implementing device drivers for UNIX. In this article, we will tell you what are UNIX device drivers, who is George Pajari and what is his book about, and how to download the book for free.
writing unix device drivers by george pajari pdf free download
Introduction
What are UNIX device drivers and why are they important?
UNIX device drivers are special programs that allow the operating system to interact with hardware devices, such as disks, printers, keyboards, mice, network cards, etc. They act as an interface between the kernel and the user processes that access the devices. Without device drivers, the operating system would not be able to recognize or control the devices attached to it.
Device drivers are important because they enable the operating system to support a wide range of hardware devices with different features and capabilities. They also allow users to customize their devices according to their preferences and needs. For example, you can change the resolution of your monitor, adjust the volume of your speakers, or configure your printer settings using device drivers.
Who is George Pajari and what is his book about?
George Pajari is a software engineer and consultant who has been working with UNIX systems since 1980. He has written several books and articles on UNIX programming, including Writing UNIX Device Drivers, which was published in 1992 by Addison-Wesley. The book is considered one of the definitive references on writing device drivers for UNIX.
The book provides application programmers with detailed information on writing device drivers for UNIX. It explains, through working examples, the issues related to the design and implementation of these important components of application programs. The book covers topics such as:
The types of UNIX device drivers and their characteristics
The communication mechanisms between device drivers and the kernel and user processes
The tools and techniques for writing device drivers, such as debugging, testing, tracing, etc.
The structure and organization of device driver code
The specific features and requirements of different devices, such as character devices, block devices, network devices, etc.
The advanced topics and challenges of writing device drivers, such as concurrency, synchronization, memory management, error handling, etc.
How to download the book for free?
If you want to download Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari PDF for free, you might encounter some difficulties. The book is out of print and hard to find in physical or digital format. Moreover, downloading the book for free might violate the copyright and intellectual property rights of the author and the publisher. Therefore, you should be careful and responsible when downloading the book for free.
However, if you still want to download the book for free, there are some possible sources that you can try. For example, you can search for the book on online libraries, archives, or repositories that offer free access to books and documents. You can also look for the book on peer-to-peer networks, torrent sites, or file-sharing platforms that allow users to share and download files. However, you should be aware of the risks and consequences of downloading files from these sources, such as malware, viruses, legal issues, etc.
UNIX Device Drivers Basics
What are the types of UNIX device drivers?
There are two main types of UNIX device drivers: character device drivers and block device drivers. Character device drivers handle devices that transfer data one character at a time, such as keyboards, mice, terminals, printers, etc. Block device drivers handle devices that transfer data in blocks of fixed size, such as disks, tapes, CD-ROMs, etc.
There are also some other types of UNIX device drivers that deal with specific kinds of devices or functions. For example, network device drivers handle devices that communicate over a network, such as Ethernet cards, modems, etc. Pseudo-device drivers handle virtual devices that do not correspond to any physical hardware, such as null devices, loopback devices, etc. Stream device drivers handle devices that use a modular framework for data processing and manipulation, such as pipes, sockets, filters, etc.
How do UNIX device drivers communicate with the kernel and user processes?
UNIX device drivers communicate with the kernel and user processes through a set of standard interfaces and protocols. The kernel provides a set of system calls and functions that allow user processes to access and control devices through device drivers. For example, the open(), close(), read(), write(), ioctl(), etc. system calls are used to perform common operations on devices.
The kernel also provides a set of data structures and routines that allow device drivers to register themselves with the kernel and interact with other kernel components. For example, the cdevsw[] and bdevsw[] arrays are used to store pointers to character and block device driver functions. The dev_t structure is used to identify a device by its major and minor numbers. The cdev_init(), cdev_add(), bdev_init(), bdev_add(), etc. routines are used to initialize and add device drivers to the kernel.
What are the tools and techniques for writing UNIX device drivers?
Writing UNIX device drivers requires a good knowledge of C programming language, UNIX system programming, hardware architecture, and device specifications. It also requires a lot of testing and debugging to ensure the correctness and reliability of the device driver code. Some of the tools and techniques for writing UNIX device drivers are:
The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a suite of compilers that can compile C code for different platforms and architectures.
The GNU Debugger (GDB) is a powerful debugger that can attach to running processes and examine their memory, registers, stack frames, etc.
The SystemTap tool is a dynamic tracing tool that can insert probes into running kernel code and collect data about its behavior.
The strace tool is a utility that can trace system calls made by a process and display their arguments and return values.
The ltrace tool is a utility that can trace library calls made by a process and display their arguments and return values.
The ktrace tool is a utility that can trace kernel events generated by a process and display their arguments and return values.
The DTrace tool is a comprehensive tracing framework that can instrument various aspects of the system, such as kernel functions, user functions, system calls, etc.
The printk() function is a kernel function that can print messages to the console or log files for debugging purposes.
The KDB (Kernel Debugger) is an interactive debugger that can be invoked from the console or remotely to debug kernel code.
The KGDB (Kernel GNU Debugger) is an extension of GDB that can debug kernel code using a serial or network connection.
Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari
What are the main topics covered in the book?
Pajari covers the following main topics in his book:
The introduction chapter gives an overview of UNIX device drivers and their role in the operating system. It also explains the structure and organization of the book and the conventions used throughout.
The first part of the book (chapters 2 to 5) covers the basics of UNIX device drivers, such as the types of device drivers, the communication mechanisms between device drivers and the kernel and user processes, and the tools and techniques for writing device drivers.
The second part of the book (chapters 6 to 9) covers the specific features and requirements of different devices, such as character devices, block devices, network devices, and stream devices. It also provides examples of device drivers for each type of device.
The third part of the book (chapters 10 to 13) covers the advanced topics and challenges of writing device drivers, such as concurrency, synchronization, memory management, error handling, performance tuning, portability issues, etc.
The appendixes provide additional information and resources for writing UNIX device drivers, such as a glossary of terms, a list of references, a list of system calls and functions related to device drivers, etc.
What are the benefits of reading the book?
Reading Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari can provide you with several benefits, such as:
You can learn how to write device drivers for UNIX from a practical and experienced perspective. The book provides clear explanations, working examples, and useful tips for writing device drivers.
You can gain a deeper understanding of how UNIX works and how it interacts with hardware devices. The book covers not only the technical aspects of device drivers, but also the design principles and trade-offs involved in writing them.
You can improve your skills and knowledge as a UNIX programmer. The book covers various topics that are relevant for any UNIX programmer, such as C programming, system programming, hardware architecture, debugging techniques, etc.
You can expand your career opportunities as a UNIX developer. The book can help you prepare for working on projects that involve writing or modifying device drivers for UNIX systems.
What are some examples of device drivers written in the book?
The book provides several examples of device drivers written for different types of devices. Some of these examples are:
A character device driver for a simple LED display that shows the number of open files on the system.
A block device driver for a RAM disk that uses a portion of memory as a storage device.
A network device driver for a loopback interface that sends and receives packets to itself.
A stream device driver for a filter module that converts uppercase characters to lowercase characters in a data stream.
Downloading Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari PDF for Free
What are the legal and ethical issues of downloading the book for free?
Downloading Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari PDF for free might seem tempting, but it also raises some legal and ethical issues that you should consider before doing so. Some of these issues are:
You might be infringing the copyright and intellectual property rights of the author and the publisher. They have invested time, money, and effort in creating and publishing the book. By downloading the book for free, you are depriving them of their rightful compensation and recognition.
You might be violating the terms and conditions of the source that provides the book for free. Some sources might require you to register, subscribe, or pay a fee to access their content. By downloading the book for free without complying with their requirements, you are breaking their rules and agreements.
You might be exposing yourself to legal risks and consequences. Some sources might be illegal or unauthorized to distribute the book for free. By downloading the book from these sources, you might be committing a crime or an offense that could result in fines, lawsuits, or even imprisonment.
You might be compromising your moral values and principles. Some sources might be unethical or immoral to support or use. By downloading the book from these sources, you might be endorsing or encouraging their practices or activities that could harm others or society.
the book for free?
If you still want to download Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari PDF for free, you should look for some reliable sources that can provide you with the book legally and safely. Some of these sources are:
The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library that offers free access to millions of books, documents, audio, video, and software files. You can find Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari on the Internet Archive at this link: https://archive.org/details/writingunixdevic00paja_0. You can download the book in PDF or other formats, or read it online using the Internet Archive's viewer.
The Open Library is a project of the Internet Archive that aims to create a web page for every book ever published. You can find Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari on the Open Library at this link: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL1714940M/Writing_UNIX_device_drivers. You can borrow the book in PDF or other formats for 14 days using the Open Library's lending system.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari is a valuable book for anyone who wants to learn how to write device drivers for UNIX. The book covers everything from the basics to the advanced topics of writing device drivers, with clear explanations and working examples. The book is also a great resource for understanding how UNIX works and how it interacts with hardware devices.
If you want to download Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari PDF for free, you should be aware of the legal and ethical issues involved in doing so. You should also look for some reliable sources that can provide you with the book legally and safely. We have suggested some possible sources that you can try, but you should always verify their legitimacy and security before downloading anything from them.
We hope that this article has helped you learn more about Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari and how to download it for free. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari and their answers:
Q: Is Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari still relevant today?
A: Yes, Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari is still relevant today, especially for those who work with older or legacy UNIX systems or devices. The book covers the fundamental concepts and principles of writing device drivers that are applicable to any UNIX system or device. The book also provides examples of device drivers that can be adapted or modified for different devices or platforms.
Q: What are the prerequisites for reading Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari?
A: The prerequisites for reading Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari are:
A good knowledge of C programming language, as the book uses C as the main language for writing device drivers.
A basic knowledge of UNIX system programming, as the book uses UNIX system calls and functions for interacting with the kernel and user processes.
A basic knowledge of hardware architecture, as the book explains how devices work and how they communicate with the operating system.
A basic knowledge of device specifications, as the book provides information about the features and requirements of different devices.
Q: How long does it take to read Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari?
A: The time it takes to read Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari depends on your reading speed, comprehension level, and interest in the topic. The book has 323 pages and 13 chapters, plus appendixes. A rough estimate is that it would take about 10 to 15 hours to read the book in its entirety.
Q: Where can I buy Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari?
A: If you want to buy Writing UNIX Device Drivers by George Pajari, you might have some trouble finding it in physical or digital format. The book is out of print and hard to find in bookstores or online shops. However, you might be able to find some used copies of the book on sites like Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, etc. You might also be able to find some copies of the book in libraries or academic institutions.
Q: What are some other books on writing UNIX device drivers?
A: Some other books on writing UNIX device drivers are:
Linux Device Drivers by Jonathan Corbet, Alessandro Rubini, and Greg Kroah-Hartman. This book is a comprehensive guide on writing device drivers for Linux, the most popular UNIX-like operating system. The book covers topics such as kernel modules, character devices, block devices, network devices, USB devices, memory management, concurrency, debugging, etc.
FreeBSD Device Drivers by Joseph Kong. This book is a practical guide on writing device drivers for FreeBSD, a free and open-source UNIX-like operating system. The book covers topics such as kernel modules, character devices, block devices, network devices, PCI devices, USB devices, memory management, concurrency, debugging, etc.
network devices, SCSI devices, USB devices, memory management, concurrency, debugging, etc.
Mac OS X and iOS Internals by Jonathan Levin. This book is a comprehensive guide on the internals of Mac OS X and iOS, two UNIX-like operating systems developed by Apple. The book covers topics such as kernel architecture, processes and threads, memory management, file systems, networking, security, etc. The book also includes a chapter on writing device drivers for Mac OS X and iOS.
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