Os Memory Management Questions Medium
The purpose of a memory segment table in memory management is to keep track of the allocation and utilization of memory segments within a computer system.
A memory segment table is typically used in systems that employ a segmented memory architecture, where the main memory is divided into multiple segments of varying sizes. Each segment represents a logical unit of memory, such as a program or a data structure.
The memory segment table contains information about each segment, including its starting address, size, and access permissions. It serves as a reference for the operating system to manage the allocation and deallocation of memory segments, as well as to enforce memory protection and access control.
When a process requests memory, the memory segment table is consulted to find a suitable segment that can accommodate the requested size. The table is updated to reflect the allocation of the segment to the process, marking it as occupied. Conversely, when a process releases memory, the table is updated to mark the corresponding segment as available for reuse.
Additionally, the memory segment table helps in enforcing memory protection by specifying the access permissions for each segment. This ensures that processes can only access memory segments that they have been granted permission to, preventing unauthorized access and ensuring data integrity.
Overall, the memory segment table plays a crucial role in efficient memory management by providing a structured and organized way to track and manage memory segments within a computer system.