OPERATING SYSTEMS CS F372

BIJU K RAVEENDRAN & TEAM

LECT #06: KERNEL

 UNIX
• UNIX – limited by hardware functionality, the original
UNIX operating system had limited structuring. The
UNIX OS consists of two separable parts
– Systems programs
– The kernel
• Consists of everything below the system-call
interface and above the physical hardware
• Provides the file system, CPU scheduling, memory
management, and other operating-system
functions; a large number of functions for one
level
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 UNIX System Structure

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UNIX Kernel Space

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 Linux System Structure

Monolithic
with Modular
Design

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 Microkernel System Structure
• Moves as much from the kernel into “user” space
• Communication takes place between user modules using message
passing
• Kernel consist of only essential components
• The kernel will be very small
• Main function of the Micro kernel is to provide communication
facility (using Message passing)
• Benefits:
– Easier to extend a microkernel
– Easier to port the operating system to new architectures
– More reliable (less code is running in kernel mode)
– More secure
• Detriments:
– Performance overhead of user space to kernel space communication
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 Microkernel System Structure

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 Monolithic Vs Micro Kernel

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 Modules
• Most modern operating systems implement
kernel modules
– Uses object-oriented approach
– Each core component is separate
– Each talks to the others over known
interfaces
– Each is loadable as needed within the kernel
• Overall, similar to layers but with more flexible
– Linux, Solaris
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 Solaris Modular Approach

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 Hybrid Systems
• Most modern OSs are actually not one pure model
– Hybrid combines multiple approaches to address
performance, security, usability needs
– Linux and Solaris kernels in kernel address space
are monolithic and are modular for dynamic
loading of functionality
– Windows mostly monolithic, plus microkernel
for different subsystem personalities

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 Why Applications are OS Specific?
• Apps compiled on one system usually not executable on other OS
• Each OS provides its own unique system calls, file formats etc..
• Apps can be multi-operating system
– Written in interpreted language like Python, Ruby, and
interpreter available on multiple OSs
– App written in language that includes a VM containing the
running app (like Java)
– Use standard language (like C), compile separately on each OS
to run on each
• Application Binary Interface (ABI) is architecture equivalent of API,
defines how different components of binary code can interface for
a given operating system on a given architecture, CPU, etc .
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 System Design
• System Design Goals
– User goals – operating system should be convenient
to use, easy to learn, reliable, safe, and fast.
– System goals – operating system should be easy to
design, implement, and maintain, as well as flexible,
reliable, error-free, and efficient
• Mechanisms and Policies
– Mechanisms determine how to do something,
policies decide what will be done.
– The separation of policy from mechanism is a very
important principle, it allows maximum flexibility if
policy decisions are to be changed later.
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 System Implementation
• Traditionally written in assembly language,
operating systems can now be written in higher-
level languages.
• Code written in a high-level language:
– can be written faster.
– is more compact.
– is easier to understand and debug.
• An operating system is far easier to port (move
to some other hardware) if it is written in a
high-level language.
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 General System Architecture
• Why we need protection?
– In single task / programming environment
• To protect OS from incorrect program
– In multiprogramming / multitasking environment
• To protect OS and other programs from incorrect
program

• Given the I/O instructions are privileged, how does

the user program perform I/O?
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 Use of a System call to perform I/O

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