The 32-bit AIX Virtual Memory Model

AIX® assigns a virtual address space partitioned into 16 segments of 256 MB.

Processing address space to data is managed at the segment level, so a data segment can either be shared (between processes), or private.

The AIX 32–Bit Memory Model with MAXDATA=0 (default)
  • Segment 0 is assigned to the kernel.
  • Segment 1 is application program text (static native code).
  • Segment 2 is the application program data and application stack (primordial thread stack and private data).
  • Segments 3 to C are shared memory available to all processes.
  • Segment D is the shared library text.
  • Segment E is also shared memory and miscellaneous kernel usage.
  • Segment F is the data area.