The K42 group is developing a new high performance, open source, general-purpose operating system kernel for cache-coherent multiprocessors. They are targeting next generation servers ranging from small-scale multiprocessors that we expect will become ubiquitous, to very large-scale non-symmetric multiprocessors that are becoming increasingly important in both commercial and technical environments.
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Eugenia Loli
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Reading through a couple of their white papers reveals that they have implemented some of the Linux API and ABI, and indeed are already using Linux device drivers.
Looks to be a very interesting project… could be useful especially for large SMP systems.
Does this have anything to do with the OS for IBM’s Cell?
The general target is any 64-bit platform. The base kernel is a close relative of L4(very small) and most of what you would call regular OS functionality is implemented as userspace components on top, much like the Hurd (wich is also trying to replace its microkernel for a more efficient one: L4)
Unlike the Hurd however the system was built around a true microkernel from scratch and designed using object oriented techniques – which should make developing for it easier for the hordes of software engineers bottlefed on the stuff.
For legacy applications(read linux) there is the possibility to run instances of an operating system as components with decent performance – see Sawmill(IBM/L4) for instance.