7.3 Task Register

The task register has both a "visible" portion (i.e., can be read and changed by instructions) and an "invisible" portion (maintained by the processor to correspond to the visible portion; cannot be read by any instruction). The selector in the visible portion selects a TSS descriptor in the GDT. The processor uses the invisible portion to cache the base and limit values from the TSS descriptor. Holding the base and limit in a register makes execution of the task more efficient, because the processor does not need to repeatedly fetch these values from memory when it references the TSS of the current task.

The instructions LTR and STR are used to modify and read the visible portion of the task register. Both instructions take one operand, a 16-bit selector located in memory or in a general register.

LTR (Load task register) loads the visible portion of the task register with the selector operand, which must select a TSS descriptor in the GDT. LTR also loads the invisible portion with information from the TSS descriptor selected by the operand. LTR is a privileged instruction; it may be executed only when CPL is zero. LTR is generally used during system initialization to give an initial value to the task register; thereafter, the contents of TR are changed by task switch operations.

STR (Store task register) stores the visible portion of the task register in a general register or memory word. STR is not privileged.

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