From: zdenek@ksr.com (Zdenek Radouch) Subject: Re: IMPORTANT [BUG in 0.99] Re: [ANNOUNCE]: linux version 0.99 Date: 22 Dec 1992 17:46:25 EST
>>>>In normal C programs, yes, but the kernel is a bit special. Like, for
>>>>instance, who is going to do the initialization?
>>>
>>>Why couldn't the first thing in the kernel be a zeroing of bss?!
>>
>>Well, how about the kernel runs in 32bit mode, while the init stuff is
>>done in 16bit mode.
>
>Hm. How about, the first thing in the kernel _after_ transition to
>32-bit mode?
What am I missing? Why is the mode significant and how does it affect
writing bunch of zeroes in memory?
Also, why does the init code run in 16-bit mode? I'd assume that the first
five instructions in the boot code would put the processor in some
reasonable mode.
-Z