Table of Contents

Note: This API calls are shared between DOS and Win16 personality.

DPMI is a shared interface for DOS applications to access Intel 80286+ CPUs services. DOS DMPI host provides core services for protected mode applications. Multitasking OS with DOS support also provides DMPI in most cases. Windows standard and extended mode kernel is a DPMI client app. Standard and extended mode kernel differs minimally and shares common codebase. Standard Windows kernel works under DOSX extender. DOSX is a specialized version of 16-bit DPMI Extender (but it is standard DPMI host). Standard mode is just DPMI client, exnhanced mode is DPMI client running under Virtual Machime Manager (really, multitasker which allow to run many DOS sessions). Both modes shares DPMI interface for kernel communication. The OS/2 virtual DOS Protected Mode Interface (VDPMI) device driver provides Version 0.9 DPMI support for virtual DOS machines. Win16 (up to Windows ME) provides Version 0.9 DPMI support. Windows in Standard Mode provides DPMI services only for Windows Applications, not DOS sessions.

DPMI host often merged with DPMI extender. Usually DPMI extender provide DPMI host standard services and DOS translation or True DPMI services.

2021/08/05 10:15 · prokushev · 0 Comments

Int 31H, AH=00H, AL=0AH

Version

0.9

Brief

Create Alias Descriptor

Input

AX = 000AH
BX = selector

Return

if function successful
Carry flag = clear
AX = data selector (alias)

if function unsuccessful
Carry flag = set
AX = error code
8011H	descriptor unavailable
8022H	invalid selector

Notes

Creates a new LDT data descriptor that has the same base and limit as the specified descriptor.

The selector supplied to the function may be either a data selector or an executable selector. Note that the published 0.9 specification was in error to say that the function generates an error on a data descriptor.

The descriptor alias returned by this function will not track changes to the original descriptor. In other words, if an alias is created with this function, and the base or limit of the original segment is then changed, the two descriptors will no longer map the same memory.

Refer to the rules for descriptor usage in Appendix D.

See also

Note

Text based on http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/doc/dpmi/

DPMI
Process manager INT 2FH 1680H, 1687H
Signals
Memory manager
Misc INT 2FH 1686H, 168AH
Devices
2021/08/13 14:23 · prokushev · 0 Comments