subsystem

A subsystem - also called a subsystem ( borrowed from English subsystem or sub-system ; literally for example "substructure" and translates as "[ancillary or] extension") - mainly designates an extension for operating system kernels . In the microkernel - architectures they are used for different tasks, while it is often also possible with an operating system different binary formats perform.

more details

Windows

In the kernel of the Windows NT family part or, so-called sub systems used to manage specific program or process types. A separate API is usually made available with each subsystem .

Windows can also process binary formats such as DOS , Win16 and Win32 , but does not have a microkernel , but integrates various subsystem modules (or so-called subsystems ) to execute the various formats as part of its architecture.

Windows also contains or contained the following subsystems.

• Interix - the successor to the POSIX subsystem ; is optional on Windows XP available
• MS-DOS Subsystem ( Win16 - API ) - enables 16-bit MS-DOS applications to be run ; in each 32-bit - NT Windows included. → Virtual DOS machine .
• OS / 2 subsystem - enables OS / 2 compatible applications to run (in text mode only); is no longer included as of Windows XP
• POSIX subsystem - enables POSIX-compatible applications to be run; was from Windows XP [either] by Interix replaced
• Security subsystem - is included in every NT Windows (Windows 2000 or earlier)
• Spooler subsystem ( English ' spooler subsystem ' ) - print queue
• Win32 Subsystem ( Win32s and Win32 API) - included since Windows 3.1 (including Windows 9x and in every NT Windows)
• WOW64 Subsystem ( Win64 API) - enables 32-bit Windows applications to run on 64-bit Windows systems

Win32 is (or was until the introduction of the 64-bit level) the most widely used subsystem; the MS-DOS subsystem (with 16 bit) was (until Windows XP ) only available because of downward compatibility .

Other platforms

With monolithic architectures , such as Linux , subsystems are rarely used. A well-known subsystem for Linux are the SELinux security extensions from the NSA .

See also

• Front-end and back-end

Single receipts

1. ↑ subsystem ( Memento of the original from September 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English-German) - Duden , Langenscheidt ; 2015 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} System structure - subsystems - for Windows NT / 2000 ; in EDV-Körbel: MCSE , 2006, see also on the home page there under content (old) ; accessed on May 9, 2016.
3. ↑ sub- ( Memento of the original from September 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , system ( Memento of the original from September 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English-German) - Duden , Langenscheidt ; 2015  
4. ↑ Fig. 5.1: Windows Task Manager with […] - Oracle 11g: The comprehensive manual ; MITP . 1st edition. 2009; ISBN 978-3-8266-5913-3 ; in Chapter 5: Operating system-specific features on page 110
5. ↑ Spooler SubSystem App has encountered a problem and must be closed - WinTotal.de , on August 9, 2007.