Barrelfish: Multikernel Operating System out of Zurich
A group from the ETH technical institute in Zurich is working together with software giant Microsoft on a new kind of operating system called Barrelfish. The first results are now available under an open source license.
Barrelfish is based on the multikernel concept that considers each core of modern processors a separate network node. Each core runs a mini operating system that communicates and swaps data with its peers. In this way a small distributed system is created on each computer that looks and feels like a full-fledged operating system. This allows tasks to be better distributed among the processor cores and use the processing more efficiently -- in most current PCs many processor cores lie fallow, depending on the application used. The whole concept is distinctly close to that of cloud computing.
The developer team is a mix of the researchers at the ETH Zurich and members of Microsoft Research Cambridge out of the UK. The joint venture wants to discover "how to structure an OS for future multi- and many-core systems." The project is not just limited to theory. The fairly sparse and unassuming homepage does have its list of publications, theses and reports, but it provide the source code that has been available since mid-September under a BSD license.
The reference implementation known as Barrelfish should primarily give other researchers and developers an insight into the team's methodology and practicality of the concept. Because many of the functions of a typical operating system are (still) missing in Barrelfish, it is not intended for everyday use -- some fundamental appropriate expertise is assumed upon installation.
The project webpage points to a number of supportive documents. In them, developers not only certify that Barrelfish provides better performance than current operating systems like Windows and Linux, but the system is significantly more scalable. The new multikernel operating system affords this by message passing instead of shared memory. Above all, the concept isn't bound to specific hardware and can be applied (more) easily to other architectures and systems.
In the project FAQ, the joint venture emphasizes that Microsoft provides no financial support and stems solely from a previous project shared by the ETH and Microsoft Research.
Apart from Barrelfish, Microsoft is working behind the scenes on other alternative operating systems that might replace or at least flow into the Windows product lines. A well-known example is the Singularity operating system that is totally based on .NET programs and, like Barrelfish, a distributed microkernel platform.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
Patents!
Even it is now, it will not be later...What BIOS?
Why 7 years; because they have been spreading FUD and the game of embrace, extend and extinguish for well over 20 years now. If they were a new company just treating open source poorly than I would say a 3 year clock reset would be enough. But not for an established company that we all know, knows better, but makes these types of decisions anyway.
Are they building their new Operating System on top of a Coreboot BIOS? After all ONLY Coreboot is open source. That in an of itself will telegraph their true intentions.
Open Source?