Linux Kernel Early Page Tables

I wanted to understand how the code for the early page tables that the kernel builds just before paging is enabled, works. x86 AT&T assembly isn’t very easy to understand, but it’s fun though. 😛

page_pde_offset = (__PAGE_OFFSET >> 20);

        movl $pa(__brk_base), %edi
        movl $pa(swapper_pg_dir), %edx
        movl $PTE_IDENT_ATTR, %eax
10:
        leal PDE_IDENT_ATTR(%edi),%ecx          /* Create PDE entry */
        movl %ecx,(%edx)                        /* Store identity PDE entry */
        movl %ecx,page_pde_offset(%edx)         /* Store kernel PDE entry */
        addl $4,%edx
        movl $1024, %ecx
11:
        stosl
        addl $0x1000,%eax
        loop 11b
        /*
         * End condition: we must map up to the end + MAPPING_BEYOND_END.
         */
        movl $pa(_end) + MAPPING_BEYOND_END + PTE_IDENT_ATTR, %ebp
        cmpl %ebp,%eax
        jb 10b
        addl $__PAGE_OFFSET, %edi
        movl %edi, pa(_brk_end)
        shrl $12, %eax
        movl %eax, pa(max_pfn_mapped)

Here’s the piece of code.
Have fun! 🙂

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