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From: archer%segin4.segin.fr@relay.prime.com (Vincent Archer)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: minix manual, exec from init
Message-ID: <36227@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Date: 13 Nov 90 14:19:25 GMT
Sender: mmdf@ee.udel.edu
Lines: 21

In message of 12 Nov 90 10:58:42 GMT, Matthias Pfaller (leo@marco.de) said :
> 2. Why can I not do an
> 	exec(/etc/init)
>   from the init in the minix-image?

The INIT (pid=1) in the Minix kernel is not just like an ordinary process. It
is put in a special way, with a special binding, in a special location. As an
example, your RAM disk is located just AFTER init's image (on ST, at least),
but BEFORE any other running program. Another example is that CTRL-ALT-F9
kills all processes, but leaves INIT untouched. So exec-ing is strictly
forbidden when you're not a user-level process (try exec in FS :-> ).

That's why Fred van Kempen, in its INIT, forks() and then exec("/etc/init")
A more flexible

_________
 |\___/|	Vincent Archer
 | \ / |	Email: archer%segin4.segin.fr@relay.prime.com
 | /|\ |
 |// \\|
-+-----+-	"Time is running fast..."