JavaOS Java on the Bare Metal
Peter Madany
Outline
Goals Hosted Java JavaOS Technical overview Advantages Target systems Status Demo Future
Goals
Enable new types of network devices
Intelligent Dynamic Simple to install, administer, and use
Run Java in systems with limited resources
Java-enabled devices Cannot assume high-end hardware and software
Limited Hardware:
Limited Memory: RAM, ROM Optional items display and disks
No host operating system
Minimize memory requirements
How Features Are Delivered
Today: the Java language is embedded
in applications
e.g. browsers
Soon: embedded within operating systems e.g. in Solaris, Windows, Mac OS Both rely on a host OS Conclusion: today Java requires a host OS
Java on a Conventional OS
HotJava Java Foundation Classes Java Run-Time
Platform Independent + Platform Dependent
Java API AWT Classes Net and IO Classes
Java C
libawt
libnet
Operating System (Windows 95, MacOS 7.5, Solaris 2.5)
Hardware LEGEND: JavaSoft Software 3rd Party Software
Major Features
Java Virtual Machine Byte-code interpreter Class loader Garbage collector Language and Utility Classes AWT Classes Net Classes IO Classes
Host OS Requirements
Support for threads Context switching Memory Allocation Window system Network Protocols File Systems Device drivers Keyboard Mouse Display
Matching Java to a Host OS
Map AWT to window system Map Net classes to native networking Map file-related IO classes to
file system Port platform-dependent part of VM
Java Without a Host OS
Provide just enough kernel features: To implement the Java VM Just enough Java-based code for: AWT, Net, and File IO Necessary device drivers Display and network Mouse and keyboard Still support the full Java Platform API
JavaOS Architecture
Java API
HotJava Java Foundation Classes AWT classes Java windows Java graphics TCP Net and IO classes NFS client UDP IP Ethernet KBD Mouse
Java Virtual Machine Booting, traps, interrupts, threads LEGEND: Java C and assembler Hardware
JavaOS Details: JavaKernel
Bootstrap Memory allocation Device mapping Trap and interrupt handling Thread support Simple context switching Single address space
JavaOS Details: Virtual Machine
The virtual machine implements Java Bytecode interpreter loop Java exception handling Memory management Threads JavaOS mostly uses standard VM
Tuned the malloc and Java-compatible heaps Class garbage collection
JavaOS Details: ROMability
Java-based byte codes are modified
when run
Cannot be placed as is in ROM
The ROMizer tool Converts set of class files into ROMable, bootable Java-based images Performs some optimizations on the image
JavaOS Details: Device Drivers
All device drivers written in Java Use two small C support classes For memory objects and interrupt dispatch We have working device drivers for: Ethernet Keyboard, mouse, serial ports, and clock Several frame buffers, including VGA Audio Designing a Java-compatible Device
Driver Interface
JavaOS Details: Networking
Written in the Java language We currently have working versions of:
TCP, UDP, IP and ICMP ARP for address resolution DNS or NIS for hostname lookup and login DHCP or RARP for address discovery NFS client-side, including SunRPC/XDR SNMP agent for network management Socket support Network time
JavaOS Details: Windows & Graphics
Uses the Tiny AWT widget library X-windows would be too heavy-weight Window system
Small window system Written in the Java language Optimized for limited memory
Graphics rendering package
Mostly written in Java Designed for AWT Lowest level uses native methods written in C Bitmapped fonts
JavaOS Details: Applet API
Same code Same API
HotJava As Desktop
HotJava HTML browser Written in the Java language Supports multiple windows Can run multiple applets per window Dynamically extendable Could run other Java-based programs Possibly customized versions of HotJava
JavaOS Is Not an OS
6. It doesnt need a file system 5. It doesnt need virtual memory 4. It doesnt need separate address spaces 3. It doesnt support more than one language 2. It doesnt have its own set of system calls 1. ...
JavaOS Is Not an OS
1. Marketing tells people it is NOT an OS
JavaOS Is an OS
9. You can boot it 8. You can log in to it 7. It safely runs several applets at a time 6. It drives devices 5. It networks 4. It does windows 3. It has an API the Java Applet API 2. Tons of applets are being written for it
JavaOS Is an OS
1. Marketing tells people it is an OS
JavaOS Performance: Speed
System built without using a JIT compiler Network performance Current TCP/IP throughput is 500K Bps Little tuning No native methods written in C
JavaOS Performance: Speed
Pendragon CaffeineMark
Category Seive Loop Graphics Image CaffeineMark
Netscape/Solaris HotJava/Solaris HotJava/JavaOS
31 27 89 57 51
33 27 102 96 64
33 29 122 265 112
JavaOS Performance: Memory
4MB ROM Code for JavaOS includes:
Kernel code and drivers, Java VM and classes, JavaOS windows, graphics, and networking
Code for HotJava Fonts of various types, sizes, and styles
4MB RAM Assuming ROM can be executed in place 2.5MB for JavaOS + Hotjava 1.5MB for pages, applets, and images
JavaOS Advantages
Eliminates host OS overhead Smaller size No extraneous features Faster startup ROMable Written in the Java language Safe language Portable Dynamically extendable Cost of ownership Ease of installation Ease of administration
JavaOS for Intranet Computers
Exploit enterprise network infrastructure Ethernet at each desktop Higher speed backbone networks Level of system administration depends on choice of protocols like DHCP or RARP Supports Java-based application
environment
MIS applications easier to develop,
deploy, maintain OEMs build JavaOS Intranet Computers
JavaOS for Internet Computers
Use current or future home networking High-speed modem ISDN Cable modem Requires an Internet Service Provider
(ISP) to make it behave like an appliance Supports Java-based application environment
Suitable for surfing the Web
OEMs build JavaOS Internet Computers
JavaOS for Network Devices
Tailoring Java to fit the device
No subsetting of:
Java VM and language and utility classes
Include or exclude based on hardware features:
AWT, Net, and file-related IO classes
Tune system for soft real time
VM and garbage collection
JavaOS Development Environment Embedded JavaOS memory requirements:
128K RAM, 512K ROM Retains ability to download new Java code
JavaOS Status
Currently runs on two platforms SPARC X86 Being ported to other platforms Available in October 1996
JavaOS Demo
Demo hardware Prototype network portal Demo software No host OS Alpha JavaOS Pre-beta HotJava Demo applets
JavaOS Future
New Java APIs Device Driver Interface Window system enhancements Scalable fonts
Summary
Features Performance Advantages Target systems Status
Deep Dive: JavaKernel
MMU usage Modified only at boot-time Used to make memory ranges contiguous JavaOS runs in supervisor mode only Java-compatible interrupt handlers
were a little tricky
Low-level code uses interrupts-as-threads
