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March 2013

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Subject:
Re: Installing on a new laptop
From:
Konstantin Olchanski <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Konstantin Olchanski <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 1 Mar 2013 10:34:13 -0800
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On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 08:03:48PM -0800, Yasha Karant wrote:
>
> Modern BSD is a micro-kernel ("MACH") design, whereas Linux still is
> a monolithic kernel design.
>

FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, DragonFlyBSD are all original monolithic UNIX.

Linux of course is a monolithic kernel.

The only micro-kernel system widely used is MacOS 10, of NeXT lineage. It runs
a monolithic FreeBSD kernel (of mid-1990-ies vintage) on top of the CMU MACH
microkernel. This makes it a "fake" micro-kernel OS, compared to a "true" one
like GNU Hurd (vaporware).

>
> A micro-kernel design has intrinsic
> design advantages over a monolithic design, all other things being
> equal.
>

This is a popular myth. Unfortunately it is not true. For further reading, google "linus torvalds microkernel debate".

-- 
Konstantin Olchanski
Data Acquisition Systems: The Bytes Must Flow!
Email: olchansk-at-triumf-dot-ca
Snail mail: 4004 Wesbrook Mall, TRIUMF, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 2A3, Canada

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