Kernel Directory Structure

In Linux the Kernel source is available under /usr/src/linux.

• Architecture dependent code is available in the following directory structure

  • arch/alpha – for the DEC Alpha Architecture
  • arch/x86 – for the Intel 32 bit Architecture
  • arch/arm – for the ARM Architecture
  • arch/ia64 – for the intel 64 bit architecture
  • arch/m68k – for the 68000 architecture and compatible processors. 
• init/ directory contains all the functions needed to start the kernel.  
• kernel/ – central sections of the kernel. Most important system calls are implemented here. 
• arch/x86/mm or mm/ – takes care of memory management by requesting and releasing kernel memories.  
• fs/ is the virtual file system interface. Some important file systems are proc, ext2,ext3,. The proc file systems is used for system management. 

• drivers/ – every operating system requires drivers for its hardware components. These are held in this directory and classified into groups according to their subdirectories like the following

  • drivers/char – character oriented devices
  • drivers/block – block oriented devices
  • drivers/i2c – a generic i2c driver
  • drivers/scsi – the SCSI interface
  • drivers/usb – drivers for the USB subsystem 
• ipc/ – indicates the Inter process communication  
• lib/ – indicates the standard C library functions