University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar KPK

Department of CS & IT
Name: Nafees Ahmad
Reg: 23PWBCS1040
Assignment: 01
Subject: Operating System (Theory)
Submitted to: Mam Kanwal Aneeq
Date of Submission: 01-03-2025
Q1. Do research on Operating System Architecture and give details description on its
different Architecture including topic:
a. Monolithic kernel
b. Microkernel Architecture
c. Hybrid Kernel Architecture
d. Layered Architecture
e. Exo-kernel architecture
f. Virtual Machine Architecture
g. Client-Server Architecture
h. Distributed Operating System Architecture
Answer:
Operating System Architecture:
Operating System (OS) architecture defines the internal structure and mechanisms
that an OS employs to manage system resources and provide services to users and
applications. Di erent architectures impact system performance, security, and
maintainability.
Key Concepts
 Kernel: The core of the operating system, responsible for managing system
resources.
 User Space: Where applications run.
 Kernel Space: Where the kernel runs, with privileged access to hardware.
Operating System Architectures
1. Monolithic Kernel:
 In this architecture, the entire operating system runs in kernel space. All
services, such as device drivers, file systems, and memory management, are
integrated into a single kernel.
 Advantages:
 High performance due to direct communication between
components.
 Relatively simple to implement.
 Disadvantages:
 If one component fails, the entire system can crash.
 Di icult to maintain and update.
 Security vulnerabilities can a ect the entire kernel.
 Examples: Linux, older versions of Unix.
2. Microkernel Architecture:
 This architecture minimizes the kernel, placing only essential services (e.g.,
inter-process communication, basic memory management) in kernel space.
  Other services run in user space as servers.
 Advantages:
 Increased stability and security.
 Improved modularity and maintainability.
 Greater flexibility for customization.
 Disadvantages:
 Performance overhead due to increased inter-process
communication.
 More complex design.
 Examples: QNX, MINIX.
3. Hybrid Kernel Architecture:
 A compromise between monolithic and microkernels. It combines the
performance of a monolithic kernel with the modularity of a microkernel.
 Critical services run in kernel space, while less critical ones run in user
space.
 Advantages:
 Balances performance and stability.
 O ers better compatibility with existing applications.
 Disadvantages:
 Can be complex to design and implement.
 Examples: Windows NT, macOS.
4. Layered Architecture:
 The operating system is organized into layers, each with specific
functionalities.
 Each layer can only interact with the layers directly above and below it.
 Advantages:
 Simplified design and debugging.
 Improved modularity.
 Disadvantages:
 Performance overhead due to layer interactions.
 Careful layer definition is needed.
 Concept: This is a conceptual way of organizing operating system
functionality, and elements of this concept can be found in many OS
designs.
5. Exo-kernel Architecture:
 An extreme form of microkernel. It aims to provide minimal abstractions,
allowing applications to have direct access to hardware resources.
  The exo-kernel's role is primarily resource allocation and protection.
 Advantages:
 High performance and flexibility.
 Allows applications to optimize resource usage.
 Disadvantages:
 Complex to implement.
 Requires applications to handle low-level hardware details.
6. Virtual Machine Architecture:
 Creates virtual machines (VMs) that emulate hardware, allowing multiple
operating systems to run concurrently on a single physical machine.
 A hypervisor manages the VMs.
 Advantages:
 Resource consolidation and isolation.
 Ability to run di erent operating systems on the same hardware.
 Disadvantages:
 Performance overhead due to virtualization.
 Hypervisor complexity.
7. Client-Server Architecture:
 Some operating systems utilize a client-server model, especially in
distributed systems.
 Services are provided by servers, and applications act as clients requesting
those services.
 Advantages:
 Modularity and distributed computing.
 Good for network-based services.
 Disadvantages:
 Network dependency.
 Server reliability is very important.
8. Distributed Operating System Architecture:
 Manages a network of independent computers as a single, coherent system.
 Resources and tasks are distributed across multiple machines.
 Advantages:
 Increased scalability and fault tolerance.
 Resource sharing.
 Disadvantages:
 Complex communication and synchronization.
 Increased security concerns.