The Traditional Kernel Memory Interface

The kvm library is the legacy interface for accessing kernel data in SunOS. Although it was available in SunOS 4.x, it is still not a library widely used by other Unix operating systems. The name stands for “kernel virtual memory,” which provides the data on which the library operates. This data takes the form of variables that provide feedback regarding the state of the operating system. From this data, you can extrapolate information regarding the relative performance of the computer. Performance analysis applications such as vmstat originally used this interface.

The kvm library provides a robust interface to accessing data within the address space of an operating system. This access includes a running ...

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