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Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of the segment descriptor tables?
What information does a logical address in a segmented program contain?
What role does the memory management unit play in a segmented memory system?
How does segmentation contribute to memory organization?
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What initiates the fetching of segments to main memory during program execution?
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Study Notes
Segmentation in Memory Management
- Segmentation is the mechanism used to divide a program into logical units called segments.
- Segments can include subroutines, arrays of data, symbol tables, or user programs.
- A logical address consists of a segment number and an offset within that segment.
- Segment tables are used to map segment numbers to physical addresses, similar to page tables in paging.
- Segment sizes can vary, requiring bounds checks to ensure offsets are within the segment boundaries.
- Each program's segment table is pointed to by a dedicated hardware register called the segment table address register.
- Segments reside in a shared virtual address space, identified by their names and lengths.
- Segments can be stored in main memory or auxiliary storage (typically disk memory).
- The operating system's memory control mechanism automatically fetches segments from auxiliary storage to main memory as needed by running programs.
- Segmentation aims to increase the address space available for user programs while providing a structured program organization and access control.
- It enables protection mechanisms to restrict access to segments and enforce security within a multi-user environment.
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Description
This quiz covers the concept of segmentation in memory management, including the definition of segments, their structure, and how they interact with physical memory. It examines the use of segment tables and the importance of bounds checks for program efficiency and safety.
