Adapter Objects

Just as multiple devices on the same controller need to coordinate their hardware access, so it is that devices that perform DMA need an orderly way to share system DMA resources. The I/O Manager uses adapter objects to prevent arguments over DMA hardware. There is one adapter object for each DMA data transfer channel on the system.

Like a controller object, an adapter object can be owned by only one device at a time. Before starting a DMA transfer, the Start I/O routine asks for ownership of the adapter object. If the hardware is free, ownership is granted. If not, the device's request is put on hold until the current owner releases the hardware. Obviously, if the device supports only programmed I/O, it has no need for an adapter ...

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