OS News Archive

The microkernel vs. monolithic debate, whether you boys and girls like it or not, rages on. After Tanenbaum's article and an email from Torvalds, another kernel developer steps up, this time in favour of the muK. A developer of the muK-based Coyotos writes: "Ultimately, there are two compelling reasons to consider microkernels in high-robustness or high-security environments: there are several examples of microkernel-based systems that have succeeded in these applications because of the system structuring that microkernel-based designs demand, there are zero examples of high-robustness or high-security monolithic systems."

The micro vs. monolithic kernel debate is now very much alive. Not too long ago, I wrote an article on the merits of microkernels, while a week later we featured a retort. Now, the greatest proponent of the microkernel steps in-- yes, Andy Tanenbaum writes: "Microkernels - long discarded as unacceptable because of their lower performance compared with monolithic kernels - might be making a comeback in operating systems due to their potentially higher reliability, which many researchers now regard as more important than performance." Now, we only need Torvalds to chime in, and it's 1992 all over again.

Wade Reynolds and David Marshall offer handy security tips and advice on how and where to use virtualization in the data center. Also, this article briefly examines the current state of affairs for multiple server deployment, with an emphasis on modern advancements in virtual servers and workstations.

"Sometimes we don't really see what our eyes are viewing. That's true with your computer screen, and it's true in nature as well. Oh sure, we can say what we think we're seeing, but we're missing the big story such as the man behind the curtain, to recall a famous phrase from an even more beloved movie." Read the article here.

Linux programmers are moving toward a change that would put virtualization software from VMware on a more even footing with open-source rival Xen. Xen was expected to be built tightly into the Linux kernel at the heart of the open-source operating system. But Andrew Morton is advocating an interface in the Linux kernel that would let it work with any virtualization foundation.

Over the past few months, Ivan Kelly has been working on porting MINIX to Xen as part of a university project. As last Monday was the final submission date for the project, he is now free to release it in the wild. Currently only the microkernel and the console driver have been ported, but a block device driver is in the works. The code and a compilation guide can be found on the website. Contributors are welcome to join the project. On a related note, a new test version of MINIX has been released as well. OSNews reported extensively on MINIX 3 last year.