The exokernel is a new operating system architecture that addresses this problem by separating resource protection from resource management, allowing application-level management of physical resources. In the exokernel architecture, a small exokernel securely exports all hardware resources through a low-level interface to untrusted library operating systems. They then use the interface to provide application-level management of physical resources by implementing system objects and policies. The separation of resource protection from management allows application-specific customization of traditional operating system abstractions by extending, specializing, or even replacing libraries.
We have implemented a prototype exokernel-based system that includes XOK, an exokernel for the Intel processors, and ExOS, an untrusted application-level operating system. Results from various experiments using this prototype indicate that the exokernel operating system design is practical and offers an excellent combination of performance and flexibility.
The talk reports on joint work with students from the LCS Parallel and Distributed Operating Systems group.
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Modified: Jun 24, 1997|
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