Kernel Services

Kernel services are routines that provide the runtime kernel environment to programs executing in kernel mode. Kernel extensions call kernel services, which resemble library routines. In contrast, application programs call library routines.

Callers of kernel services execute in kernel mode. They therefore share with the kernel the responsibility for ensuring that system integrity is not compromised.

For a list of system calls that kernel extensions are allowed to use, see System Calls Available to Kernel Extensions.

Categories of Kernel Services

Following are the categories of kernel services:

• I/O Kernel Services
• Kernel Extension and Device Driver Management Services
• Locking Kernel Services
• Logical File System Kernel Services
• Memory Kernel Services
• Message Queue Kernel Services
• Network Kernel Services
• Process and Exception Management Kernel Services
• RAS Kernel Services
• Security Kernel Services
• Timer and Time-of-Day Kernel Services
• Virtual File System (VFS) Kernel Services