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Operating System - Structure

An operating system is a structure that allows the user application programs to interact
with the system hardware. Since the operating system is such a complex structure, it
should be created with utmost care so it can be used and modified easily. An easy way to
do this is to create the operating system in parts. Each of these parts should be well
defined with clear inputs, outputs and functions.

Following are various popular implementations of Operating System structures.

Simple Structure

Monolith Structure

Micro-Kernel Structure
Exo-Kernel Structure

Layered Structure

Modular Structure

Virtual Machines

Simple Structure
There are many operating systems that have a rather simple structure. These started as
small systems and rapidly expanded much further than their scope. A common example
of this is MS-DOS. It was designed simply for a niche amount for people. There was no
indication that it would become so popular.

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It is better that operating systems have a modular structure, unlike MS-DOS. That would
lead to greater control over the computer system and its various applications. The
modular structure would also allow the programmers to hide information as required and
implement internal routines as they see fit without changing the outer specifications.

Advantages

Following are advantages of a simple operating system structure.

Easy Development - In simple operation system, being very few interfaces,

development is easy especially when only limited functionalities are to be
delivered.

Better Performance - Such a sytem, as have few layers and directly interects
with hardware, can provide a better performance as compared to other types of
operating systems.

Disadvantages

Following are disadvantages of a simple operating system structure.

Frequent System Failures - Being poorly designed, such a system is not

robust. If one program fails, entires operating system crashses. Thus system
failures are quiet frequent in simple operating systems.

Poor Maintainability - As all layers of operating systems are tightly coupled,

change in one layer can impact other layers heavily and making code
unmanageable over a period of time.

Monolith Structure
In monolith structured operating system, a central piece of code called kernel is
responsible for all major operations of an operating system. Such operations includes file
management, memory management, device management and so on. The kernal is the
main component of an operating system and it provides all the services of an operating
system to the application programs and system programs.

The kernel has access to the all the resources and it acts as an interface with application
programs and the underlying hardware. A monolithic kernel structure promotes
timesharing, multiprogramming model and was used in old banking systems.

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Advantages

Following are advantages of a monolith operating system structure.

Easy Development - As kernel is the only layer to develop with all major
functionalities, it is easier to design and develop.

Performance - As Kernel is responsible for memory management, other

operations and have direct access to the hardware, it performs better.

Disadvantages

Following are disadvantages of a monolith operating system structure.

Crash Prone - As Kernel is responsible for all functions, if one function fails
entire operating system fails.
Difficult to enhance - It is very difficult to add a new service without impacting
other services of a monolith operating system.

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Micro-Kernel Structure

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As in case monolith structure, there was single kernel, in micro-kernel, we have multiple
kernels each one specilized in particular service. Each microkernel is developed
independent to the other one and makes system more stable. If one kernel fails the
operating sytem will keep working with other kernel's functionalities.

Advantages

Following are advantages of a microkernel operating system structure.

Reliable and Stable - As multiple kernels are working simultaneously, chances

of failure of operating sytem is very less. If one functionlity is down, operating
system can still provide other functionalities using stable kernels.
Maintainability - Being small sized kernels, code size is maintainable. One can
enhance a microkernel code base without impacting other microkernel code base.

Disadvantages

Following are disadvantages of a microkernel operating system structure.

Complex to Design - Such a microkernel based architecture is difficult to

design.

Performance Degradation - Multi kernel, Multi-modular communication may

hamper the performance as compared to monolith architecture.

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Exo-Kernel Structure
Exo-Kernal Structured operating system was designed and developed at MIT. The aim of
this design was to keep Kernel size minimal while allowing the application programs to
manage hardware resources directly. The purpose of removing abstraction of operating
system for hardware resources was to enable application programmer to write high
performance code while exo-kernel handles other operations.

Advantages
Following are advantages of a exo-kernel operating system structure.

High Performance - As application program can allocate memory, a better

designed code can make optimal use and perform better.

Application Control - As resource management is not secured by operating

system, application program has more control over system resources and can
write custom operations on system resources.

Disadvantages

Following are disadvantages of a exo-kernel operating system structure.

Unreliable and Unsafe - As security is in application program level, a poorly

written code can ruin the system.

Complex Design - Exo-Kernel designing is complicated.

Layered Structure
One way to achieve modularity in the operating system is the layered approach. In this,
the bottom layer is the hardware and the topmost layer is the user interface.

An image demonstrating the layered approach is as follows −

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As seen from the image, each upper layer is built on the bottom layer. All the layers hide
some structures, operations etc from their upper layers.

One problem with the layered structure is that each layer needs to be carefully defined.
This is necessary because the upper layers can only use the functionalities of the layers
below them.

Advantages
Following are advantages of a layered operating system structure.

High Customizable - Being layered, each layer implmentation can be

customized easily. A new functionality can be added without impacting other
modules as well.

Verifiable - Being modular, each layer can be verified and debugged easily.

Disadvantages

Following are disadvantages of a layered operating system structure.

Less Performant - A layered structured operating system is less performant as

compared to basic structured operating system.

Complex designing - Each layer is to planned carefully as each layer

communicates with lower layer only and a good design process is required to
create a layered operating system.

Modular Structure

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Modular structure operating system works on the similar princhiple as a monolith but
with better design. A central kernal is responsible for all major operations of operating
system. This kernal has set of core functionality and other services are loaded as
modules dynamically to the kernal at boot time or at runtime. Sun Solaris OS is one of
the example of Modular structured operating system.

Advantages

Following are advantages of a modular operating system structure.

High Customizable - Being modular, each module implmentation can be

customized easily. A new functionality can be added without impacting other
modules as well.

Verifiable - Being modular, each layer can be verified and debugged easily.

Disadvantages
Following are disadvantages of a modular operating system structure.

Less Performant - A modular structured operating system is less performant as

compared to basic structured operating system.

Complex designing - Each module is to planned carefully as each module

communicates with kernal. A communication API is to be devised to facilitate the
communication.

Virtual Machine Structure

In this kind of structure, hardware like CPU, memory, hard disks are abstracted into
virtual machines. User can use them with actually configure them using execution
contexts. Virtual machine takes a good amount of disk space and is to be provisioned.
Muliple virtual machines can be created on a single physical machine.

Advantages

Following are advantages of a virtual machine based operating system structure.

High Customizable - Being virtual, functionality are easily accessible, can be

customized on need basis.

Secure - Being virtual, and no direct hardware access, such systems are highly
secured.

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Disadvantages

Following are disadvantages of a virtual machine based operating system structure.

Less Performant - A virtual structured operating system is less performant as

compared to modular structured operating system.

Complex designing - Each virtual component of the machine is to planned

carefully as each component is to abstract underlying hardware.

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