Microkernel-based Operating Systems
| Lecturer | Dr. Michael Roitzsch |
| Module | DSE-E8, INF-04-FG-AVS, INF-BAS4, INF-DSE-20-E-MKS, INF-VERT4, MINF-04-FG-SAT |
| Scope and Type |
2 SWS lecture, 4 SWS exercise (English) |
| Cycle | Winter semester |
| Time and Place | |
| Communication |
Mailing List (Please subscribe using a TU Dresden address), Matrix chat, Anonymous Mailbox |
Unlike in previous years, the lecture Microkernel-based Operating Systems and the Microkernel Lab are now combined in this course. We plan this with 4SWS (2 lectures, 2 exercises) in presence and 2SWS work from home.
The lecture will take place every Tuesday at 2.50PM, the exercise at 4.40PM. Unfortunately, the information in the deparment’s course list is incorrect. We ask everyone to come to the first appointment on the October 14, 2025 at 2.50PM. There we explain the organizational details.
Content
This lecture introduces various aspects and concepts regarding the construction and implementation of microkernel-based operating system. In the first part, we introduce fundamental mechanisms that are required for efficient construction of an operating system on top of a microkernel. In the second part of the lecture, we show you real systems that have been built using these concepts. While strongly focussing on the microkernel work done at TU Dresden, we also take a look at alternatives.
Having attended the lecture on microkernel construction might help you to understand some concepts easier, but it is not necessary. In fact, we recommend to attend this lecture here first.
Integrated into this lecture we offer a previously separate practical course in which you will build parts of an operating system on top of a L4 microkernel.
The lecture will cover the following aspects:
- The TU Dresden Operating System (TUD:OS)
- Basic services provided by the L4 Runtime Environment (L4Re)
- Resource Management and Real-Time
- Virtualization concepts, especially para-virtualizing Linux (L4Linux)
- Building secure systems
- Reusing commodity software in a microkernel environment
Slides
Slides will be provided during the semester.
Exercises
We will have two types of exercises. Practical exercises give you the opportunity to get hands-on experience using the software presented during the lecture. Paper Reading exercises let you practice reading scientific papers and shall inspire discussion on research ideas. All topics covered during the exercises may be content of your exam.
Paper Reading
In preparation for these exercises you are required to read the paper to be presented in the exercise. Prepare at least three questionsregarding topics of the paper. These may cover things you don't understand as well as arguments you do not believe in or ideas that arose from your reading. You will be expected to sum up the paper during the exercise as well as discuss your questions.
Practical Exercises
Practical exercises take place in the PC pools. Students may bring their own laptops running Linux, but the amount of support our tutors can give to fix Linux toolchain problems is limited in this case.
- 2024-11-04