EmbLogic's Blog

Nonpreemptability of Processes in Kernel Mode

Linux kernel is not preemptive, that is, a running process cannot
be preempted (replaced by a higher-priority process) while it remains in Kernel Mode. In
particular, the following assertions always hold in Linux:

  • No process running in Kernel Mode may be replaced by another process, except when the former voluntarily relinquishes control of the CPU.
  • Interrupt or exception handling can interrupt a process running in Kernel Mode
    however, when the interrupt handler terminates, the kernel control path of the process is resumed.

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