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Adding a System Call in Linux 2.6.x

This document provides instructions for adding a new system call to the Linux 2.6 kernel. The 11 steps include: 1) Downloading and unpacking the kernel source, 2) Creating files to define the system call, 3) Modifying files to register the system call, 4) Recompiling and installing the new kernel, 5) Creating a test program to call the new system call, and 6) Verifying it works by checking kernel logs. Following these steps allows developers to extend the functionality of the Linux kernel by adding custom system calls.

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11 views2 pages

Adding a System Call in Linux 2.6.x

This document provides instructions for adding a new system call to the Linux 2.6 kernel. The 11 steps include: 1) Downloading and unpacking the kernel source, 2) Creating files to define the system call, 3) Modifying files to register the system call, 4) Recompiling and installing the new kernel, 5) Creating a test program to call the new system call, and 6) Verifying it works by checking kernel logs. Following these steps allows developers to extend the functionality of the Linux kernel by adding custom system calls.

Uploaded by

sagar kumar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Adding a System Call to a 2.6.

x Linux Kernel
By Corban Rivera, 3204 GTA

Configuration Used to Develop These Instructions


• Dell laptop running Windows XP Pro
• Windows XP running VirtualPC
• VirtualPC running Mandrake Linux 9.2
• Mandrake 9.2 running modified 2.6.1 kernel

Prerequisites
• You must have root access (CS lab machines are not available ).

Instructions to Add System Call

1. Download the latest version of the 2.6 Linux kernel from [Link].
2. Unzip and untar the kernel directory into /usr/src/.
3. In /usr/src/Linux-x.x.x/kernel/, Create a new file myservice.c to define your
system call.

#include <Linux/linkage.h> //for linking a system call


#include <Linux/kernel.h> //for the printk

asmlinkage int sys_myservice (int arg1, char* arg2) {


printk(KERN_EMERG “my service is running”);
//kernel messages logged to /var/log/kernel/warnings
return(1);
}

4. In /usr/src/Linux-x.x.x/include/asm/unistd.h, define an index for your system call.


Your index should be the number after the last system call defined in the list.

#define __NR_myservice 274

5. Also, you should increment the system call count.

#define __NR_syscalls 275

6. In /usr/src/Linux-x.x.x/arch/i386/kernel/entry.S, you should define a pointer to


hold a reference to your system call routine. It is important that your data entry
placement corresponds to the index you assigned to your system call.

.long sys_myservice

7. Add your system call to the Makefile in /usr/src/Linux- x.x.x/kernel/Makefile.


Add your object after the other kernel objects have been declared.
obj-y += myservice.o

8. Make your system from /usr/src/Linux- x.x.x

make xconfig //save the defaults


make dep //make dependency list
make bzImage //build your kernel

9. Add a new boot image to Lilo, by editing /etc/[Link]. Your lilo configuration
will vary slightly. After saving, run lilo –v to install your settings. Don’t just
modify an existing lilo entry; you may need it if your new kernel has bugs.

image=/usr/src/Linux-x.x.x/arch/i386/boot/bzImage
label=”Linux-test”
root=/dev/hda5
read-only

10. Making a user test file. You also need to copy your edited unistd.h from
/usr/src/Linux- x.x.x/include/asm/ to /usr/include/kernel/ because it contains your
system call’s index.

#include <Linux/errno.h>
#include<sys/syscall.h>
#include <Linux/unistd.h>

long errno; //this is the return code from the system call
//this is a macro defined in unistd.h to help prototype sys calls
_syscall2(int, myservice, int, arg1, char*, arg2);

main() {
myservice(1, "hi");
}

11. Reboot into your new kernel and compile your user test program to try out
your system call. You will know if it worked if you see a kernel message in
/var/log/kernel/warnings announcing that your service is running.

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