Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
en:multiasm:papc:chapter_6_2 [2025/04/30 14:59] – [Paging] ktokarzen:multiasm:papc:chapter_6_2 [2026/05/27 09:58] (current) – [Segmented addressing in protected mode] ktokarz
Line 3: Line 3:
  
 ===== Segmented addressing in real mode ===== ===== Segmented addressing in real mode =====
-The 8086 can address the memory in so-called real mode only. In this mode, the address is calculated with two 16-bit elements: segment and offset. The 8086 implements four special registers to store the segment part of the address: CS, DS, ES, and SS. During program execution, all addresses are calculated relative to one of these registers. The program is divided into three segments containing the main elements. The code segment contains processor instructions and their immediate operands. The instructions address are related to the CS register. The data segment is related to the DS register. It contains data allocated by the program. The stack segment contains the program stack and is related to the SS register. If needed, it is possible to use an extra segment related to the ES register. It is by default used by string instructions.+The 8086 can address the memory in so-called real mode only. In this mode, the address is calculated with two 16-bit elements: segment and offset. The 8086 implements four special registers to store the segment part of the address: CS, DS, ES, and SS. During program execution, all addresses are calculated relative to one of these registers. The program is divided into three segments containing the main elements. The code segment contains processor instructions and their immediate operands. The instructions' addresses are related to the CS register. The data segment is related to the DS register. It contains data allocated by the program. The stack segment contains the program stack and is related to the SS register. If needed, it is possible to use an extra segment related to the ES register. It is used by default by string instructions.
 <figure realsegments> <figure realsegments>
 {{ :en:multiasm:cs:Real_segments.png?600 |Illustration of assignment of segments and segment registers in real mode}} {{ :en:multiasm:cs:Real_segments.png?600 |Illustration of assignment of segments and segment registers in real mode}}
 <caption>Segments and segment registers in real mode</caption> <caption>Segments and segment registers in real mode</caption>
-</figure>+</figure>'
  
 Although the 8086 processor has only four segment registers, there can be many segments defined in the program. The limitation is that the processor can access only four of them at the same time, as presented in Fig {{ref>realsegments}}. To access other segments, it must change the content of the segment register. Although the 8086 processor has only four segment registers, there can be many segments defined in the program. The limitation is that the processor can access only four of them at the same time, as presented in Fig {{ref>realsegments}}. To access other segments, it must change the content of the segment register.
  
-The address, which consists of two elements, the segment and the offset, is named a logical address. Both numbers which form a logical address are 16-bit numbers. So, how to calculate a 20-bit address with two 16-bit values? It is done in the following way. The segment part, taken always from the chosen segment register, is shifted four bit positions left. Four bits at the right side are filled with zeros, forming a 20-bit value. The offset value is added to the result of the shift. The result of the calculations is named the linear address. It is presented the Fig {{ref>realcalc}}. In the 8086 processor, the linear address equals the physical address, which is provided via the address bus to the memory of the computer. +The address, which consists of two elements, the segment and the offset, is named a logical address. Both numbers which form a logical address are 16-bit numbers. So, how to calculate a 20-bit address with two 16-bit values? It is done in the following way. The segment part, taken always from the chosen segment register, is shifted four bit positions left. Four bits on the right side are filled with zeros, forming a 20-bit value. The offset value is added to the result of the shift. The result of the calculations is named the linear address. It is presented in the Fig {{ref>realcalc}}. In the 8086 processor, the linear address equals the physical address, which is provided via the address bus to the memory of the computer. 
  
 <figure realcalc> <figure realcalc>
Line 36: Line 36:
 </figure> </figure>
  
-Although segmentation allows for advanced memory management and the implementation of memory protection, none of the popular operating systems, including Windows, Linux or MacOS, ever used it. In Windows, all segment registers, via descriptors, point to the zero base address and the maximal limit, resulting in the flat memory model. In this approach, the segmentation de facto does not function. Memory protection is implemented at the paging level. The flat memory model is shown in the Fig {{ref>ia32flat}}.+Although segmentation allows for advanced memory management and the implementation of memory protection, none of the popular operating systems, including Windows, Linux-based, or MacOS, has ever used it. In Windows, all segment registers, via descriptors, point to the zero base address and the maximal limit, resulting in the flat memory model. In this approach, the segmentation de facto does not function. Memory protection is implemented at the paging level. The flat memory model is shown in the Fig {{ref>ia32flat}}.
  
 <figure ia32flat> <figure ia32flat>
Line 85: Line 85:
 In x64 bit mode, some instructions can use segment registers FS and GS as base registers. Operating systems' kernels also use them. In x64 bit mode, some instructions can use segment registers FS and GS as base registers. Operating systems' kernels also use them.
 </note> </note>
-The 64-bit mode theoretically allows the processor to address a vast memory of 16 exabytes in size. It is expected that such a big memory will not be installed in currently built computers, so the processors limit the available address space.+The 64-bit mode theoretically allows the processor to address a vast memory of 16 exabytes in size. It is expected that such a big memory will not be installed in currently built computers, so the processors limit the available address space, not only at the paging level but also physically, having a limited number of address bus lines.
en/multiasm/papc/chapter_6_2.1746014358.txt.gz · Last modified: by ktokarz
CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
www.chimeric.de Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki do yourself a favour and use a real browser - get firefox!! Recent changes RSS feed Valid XHTML 1.0