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Explore the intricate details of Intel x86-64 processor architecture and operating system internals through this comprehensive 6-hour 54-minute course. Delve into fundamental concepts starting with processor execution modes, Model Specific Registers, and the CPUID instruction before progressing to advanced topics including privilege rings, segmentation, and segment registers. Master the Global Descriptor Table (GDT) and Local Descriptor Table (LDT) through hands-on laboratories that demonstrate real-world implementation. Examine interrupt handling mechanisms, including the differences between interrupts and exceptions, software interrupt instructions, Task State Segments (TSS), and the Interrupt Descriptor Table (IDT). Investigate system call implementations, comparing syscall versus sysenter instructions and their 32-bit versus 64-bit compatibility, while exploring syscall-adjacent technologies like swapgs and register base operations. Understand memory management through detailed coverage of paging mechanisms, including 4-level and 5-level paging structures, page table entries from CR3 to PTE level, canonical addresses, page faults, and Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) operations. Learn about security features such as the NX/XD bit for non-executable memory protection and exploit mitigation techniques including SMEP and SMAP. Practice debugging techniques using both software and hardware breakpoints, debug registers, and single-stepping mechanisms. Conclude with port I/O operations including CMOS interaction and VMware-specific implementations. Each module includes practical laboratories and real-world examples to reinforce theoretical concepts, making complex processor architecture accessible through hands-on experimentation and detailed analysis of actual system behavior.
