> ...reprograms the CPU into a sensible mode (ie, one without all this segmentation bullshit)... Protected mode still has segmentation except that segment regi

> ...reprograms the CPU into a sensible mode (ie, one without all this segmentation bullshit)... Protected mode still has segmentation except that segment registers now index into either a global or local descriptor table (DT). Linux tries to make this transparent by setting up descriptors where logical addresses coincide with linear addresses (at least for CS and DS).