The topic of trusted software wrt operating system design is introduced in chapter 3. Consider the relationship between trusted software, OS kernel, supervisor mode, system call, message passing, modularization, performance, monolithic kernel and microkernel.

1. What is the challenge of achieving trusted software?

2. What role does supervisor mode play in trusted software?

3. Compare system calls and message passing as they relate to a user process running in supervisor mode in order to execute OS functionality.

4. What is a microkernel and what advantage does it have over the standard kernel approach wrt trusted software?

5. What functionality does a microkernel provide and what functionality is provided outside the microkernel?

6. Why is performance in issue with the microkernel approach?

7. Why does modularization sacrifice performance?

I write this from the comfort of my home office, not because I don’t want to see your smiling faces, but my stomach decided to “catch the flu” so for your sakes as well as mine, I’m staying home today!

Here are a few links to get your started for this course:

Textbook

Syllabus

The topic for today: What is an Operating System? Here are the questions I want you to ponder, after pondering them I want you to post a comment in which you do your best to attempt to answer each of the following thought provoking questions. Your posted comment will be assigned a grade as well as used for today’s class attendance.

1. What is an Operating System?
2. What does it do?
3. Why do we need one?
4. Suppose you just completed creating and building a brand new processor for which no software exists. Outline what you would need to do in order for your processor to become “marketable”.

You may use your textbook or any online resource to give you ideas for your posting. Please limit yourself to a SINGLE POST for today’s class.

Hint on posting your comment – write it up using your favorite text editor or word processor, then paste it into the comment block

ASSIGNMENT DUE MONDAY – Complete the Chapter 1 Reading Quiz in EClass (the registration key for this course is CPS360Spring08)