The Raven Kernel: a Microkernel for shared memory multiprocessors

ID
TR-93-36
Authors
Duncan Stuart Ritchie
Publishing date
October 1993
Abstract

The Raven kernel is a small, lightweight operating system for shared memory multiprocessors. Raven is characterized by its movement of several traditional kernel abstractions into user space. The kernel itself implements tasks, virtual memory management, and low level exception dispatching. All thread management, device drivers, and message passing functions are implemented completely in user space. This movement of typical kernel-level abstractions into user space can drastically reduce the overall number of user/kernel interactions for fine-grained parallel applications.