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The sys_brk() system call is provided by the kernel, to allocate memory without the need of moving it later. This call allocates memory right behind the application image in the memory. This system function allows you to set the highest available address in the data section.
This system call takes one parameter, which is the highest memory address needed to be set. This value is stored in the EBX register.
In case of any error, sys_brk() returns -1 or returns the negative error code itself. The following example demonstrates dynamic memory allocation.
Example
The following program allocates 16kb of memory using the sys_brk() system call −
section .text global _start ;must be declared for using gcc _start: ;tell linker entry point mov eax, 45 ;sys_brk xor ebx, ebx int 80h add eax, 16384 ;number of bytes to be reserved mov ebx, eax mov eax, 45 ;sys_brk int 80h cmp eax, 0 jl exit ;exit, if error mov edi, eax ;EDI = highest available address sub edi, 4 ;pointing to the last DWORD mov ecx, 4096 ;number of DWORDs allocated xor eax, eax ;clear eax std ;backward rep stosd ;repete for entire allocated area cld ;put DF flag to normal state mov eax, 4 mov ebx, 1 mov ecx, msg mov edx, len int 80h ;print a message exit: mov eax, 1 xor ebx, ebx int 80h section .data msg db "Allocated 16 kb of memory!", 10 len equ $ - msg
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −
Allocated 16 kb of memory!
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