Abstract:Protecting mode is on importmant working method of X86_based computer system,which provides the hardware support for multi_task and multi_process operation system on X86 platform. During the low_level development of X86_based computer system,it is very important to understand the working method of memory that is a main part of computer system. This paper discusses the data structure and hardware component of X86_based computer system which support the two mechanism of accessing memory:segmenting and paging,as well as the process of converting logical address to linear address and mapping virtual address to physical address. Througn segmenting and paging mechanism,we can realize the independent address space for every process in multi_process system,as well as the measure for protecting the system memory which can prevent the system breakup caused by illegal memory access.