what is a kernel? : introduction and architecture

What is a Kernel?

This assembly is responsible for the movement of car and various other functions but we cannot travel in it as it has

no seats or exteriors.

This is a Kernel

We make exteriors and seats so that we can interact with the car.

This is an OS

Kernel vs OS

• This engine is analogous to kernel. Without it operating system is nothing. More formally, we can also call kernel a type of micro OS that handles all the very important functions.•While the main OS contains various other functions

and kernel in the same way the car has shafts and tyres for rotations.

Kernel is present inside Operating System

• Same engine can be used to create different car models.

• Similarly same kernel can be used to create different OS.

• Example- Linux kernel is used to create following OS -Ubuntu -Fedora -Solaris -Android etc.

What does Kernel do?

• System calls• Process management• Memory management• File system• Device drivers• Network

Different OS and their Kernels

Mac WindowsAndroid

XNU Windows NTLinux

X is Not Unix

• 90% of world’s most powerful supercomputers run on GNU linux.

• All top 10 supercomputers run on Linux Kernel.

• Linus Torvalds is the founder of Linux.

• He developed the Linux OS by reading the book that we are reading right now.

Operating System –Design & Implementation -Andrew S. Tanenbaum

Facts GNU is Not Unix

Architecture of Kernel

Architecture of Kernel

Thank you