Hybrid kernel

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A hybrid kernel (or macro kernel ) is a compromise between a microkernel and a monolithic kernel , in which for performance reasons, some parts of monolithic kernels in the core integrated and therefore is not a pure microkernel more, but not enough features has to as a monolithic kernel be valid.

Structure of monolithic kernels , micro kernels and hybrid kernels in comparison

It is not precisely defined which things are compiled in the kernel and which are loaded as modules . For example, versions 4.0 to 5.2 contain the graphics system in the Windows NT kernel . In the last BeOS beta version, the network drivers were compiled into the kernel. Even Darwin , actually a Mach contains -Mikrokernel binds of power reasons, a part of the device drivers into the Mach kernel one.

The hybrid kernel tries to combine the advantages of the micro and the monolithic kernel: On the one hand, a hybrid kernel is not as error-prone as a monolithic kernel, because, for example, not all drivers run in privileged mode and therefore cannot bring the entire system to a crash in the event of a crash . On the other hand, not as many context changes and communication are necessary as with a microkernel, which increases the speed of the kernel.

Operating systems based on hybrid kernels

Individual evidence

  1. http://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc750820.aspx