Download Windows XP Kernel Architecture

Windows XP Kernel
Architecture
Mike Karlsven
James Farrer
Jason Smith
Introduction
• Modeled on a microkernel architecture
– Modified microkernel architecture
• Components execute in kernel mode
rather than user mode
• Layered operating system
User Process
DLL
User Process
Environment Subsystems
User Space
Kernel Space
Native API Interface
I/O Manager
Virtual Memory
Manager
Executive
Plug and Play
Power Manager
Manager
Object Manager
Microkernel
Cache Manager
Security Reference
Monitor
Configuration
Manager
Device Drivers
HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer)
Physical Hardware
Hardware
Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)
• Interacts directly with the hardware
• Handles device components on mainboard
– Cache, system timers, etc
• Interacts with the microkernel
• HAL and Microkernel combine to make
Windows XP portable allowing it to run in
many different hardware environments
Windows Kernel Source Code
#include <windows.h>
#include <system_errors.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
char make_prog_look_big[1600000];
main() {
if (detect_cache())
disable_cache();
if (fast_cpu())
set_wait_states(lots);
set_mouse(speed, very_slow);
set_mouse(action, jumpy);
set_mouse(reaction, sometimes);
printf("Welcome to Windoze 3.999 (we might get it right \ or just call it Chicargo)\n");
if (system_ok())
crash(to_dos_prompt);
else system_memory = open("a:\swp0001.swp", O_CREATE);
while(1) {
sleep(5);
get_user_input();
sleep(5);
act_on_user_input();
sleep(5);
if (rand() < 0.9)
crash(complete_system);
}
return(unrecoverable_system);
}
Microkernel
• Provides base services for the other
components residing in kernel space
• Forms only small part of kernel space
• Provides basic system mechanisms
– Thread scheduling
• Handles thread synchronization
• Dispatches interrupts
• Handles exceptions
Device Drivers
• Interacts with the microkernel and the HAL
• Interacts with Executive portion of the
kernel space
• Inside kernel space
Executive
• Contains kernel-mode components responsible for
administering the operating system subsystems
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I/O Manager
Plug and Play Manager
Power Management
Security Reference Monitor
Virtual Memory Manager
Object Manager
Cache Manager
Configuration Manager
• Interacts with microkernel, device drivers, and native API
interface
Native API Interface
• The interface directly to the executive’s
services from the user level.
Environment Subsystem
• The standard environment (e.g. win32).
• A layer of abstraction to translate the
standard environment calls to system
calls.
• Processes preferred method of
interaction.
Example
Registry
• Database accessible to all process and
Kernel-mode components
• Managed by the configuration manager
(Executive Component)
• All drivers, components and applications
communicate with the configuration
manager to access the registry
Object Manager
• Executive Component that manages
objects (physical and logical resources)
• Objects are access through object handles
• Kernel-mode components can access
objects directly through pointers and
through kernel handles (handles only
accessible through kernel-mode)
Conclusion
• Designed to offer
– Stability
– Security
– Scalability
• While still providing
– Multimedia support
– Networking
– User friendly interface