llp@arizona.edu (Larry Peterson) (08/16/89)
Name: The x-Kernel Project Where: University of Arizona Contact: Dr. Larry Peterson Department of Computer Science University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 email: llp@arizona.edu phone: (602) 621-4231 Status: Active Environment: Sun-3 workstations Description: The x-kernel is a configurable operating system kernel in which communication protocols define the fundamental building block. The x-kernel supports multiple address spaces, light-weight processes, and an architecture for implementing and composing network protocols. The primary objective of the x-kernel is to facilitate the implementation of efficient protocols. In particular, the x-kernel supports the construction of new protocols from existing protocol pieces, it serves as a workbench for designing and evaluating new protocols, and it provides a platform for accessing large, heterogeneous collections of network services. The basic research problem addressed by the x-kernel is the level to which kernel abstractions facilitate the implementation of protocols. The key is that such abstractions must be rich enough to accommodate a wide variety of protocols, yet implementable in a way that does not impose a significant performance penalty on any of the protocols. Our ultimate goal in this effort is to develop operating system techniques that make protocol construction an every day part of distributed applications programming. References: N. Hutchinson, and L. Peterson. Design of the x-Kernel. Proceedings of ACM SIGCOMM `88 (Aug. 1988), 65-75. Hutchinson, N., Mishra, S., Peterson, L., and Thomas, V. Tools for Implementing Network Protocols. Software---Practice & Experience, to appear. N. Hutchinson, L. Peterson, M. Abbott, and S. O'Malley. RPC in the x-Kerenl: Evaluating New Desgin Techniques. Proceedings of the Twelfth Symposium on Operating System Principles, (December 1989), to appear. N. Hutchinson, L. Peterson, H. Rao. The x-Kernel: An Open Operating System Design. Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Workstation Operating Systems (September 1989), to appear.