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The kernel is the central component of computer operating systems, managing system resources and allowing for multiuser and multitasking capabilities. There are five types of kernels: monolithic, micro, hybrid, nano, and exo. Monolithic kernels use supervisory resource management while microkernels only perform minimal services in kernel space. Hybrid kernels combine both approaches while nanokernels rely on device drivers and exokernels use programs to allocate physical resources.
In most computer operating systems, the kernel is the central component. It is the bridge between the user, applications and computer hardware. It is also the mechanism that allows the computer to handle multiple users and multiple tasks simultaneously. The types of kernels are monolithic kernel, microkernel, hybrid kernel, nanokernel, and exokernel.
The kernel manages all system resources of the computer. This includes long-term storage, central processing unit (CPU), short-term memory, and input and output devices. When an application needs one of these resources, the kernel makes the resource available and completes the request.
This resource management allows operating systems to be both multiuser and multitasking. The operating system doesn’t actually perform more than one task at a time. Instead, the kernel changes tasks at such a rapid rate that the computer appears to be multitasking. The kernel is also responsible for making sure that resources used by one user or process are not violated by the request of another user or process.
There are two main types of kernels they are monolithic kernel and microkernel. Monolithic kernels use a supervisory method of resource management where all operating system services run in the same address space, called kernel space. Some monolithic kernels can load and unload executable modules. This extends the capabilities of the operating system while keeping a minimal amount of code running in kernel space at any one time.
Microkernels perform only the minimal amount of operating system services, such as memory management, thread management, and inter-process communication in kernel space. All other services, such as device drivers, user interfaces, and file management, run in user space. The microkernel greatly reduces the amount of code running in kernel mode.
A hybrid kernel is a combination of monolithic and microkernel. Most of the operating system’s system services run in kernel space, as a monolithic kernel. There are other services, such as file system and window system, that run in user space.
The other types of kernels are nanokernel and exokernel. The nanokernel uses device drivers to manage almost all services. The exokernel uses programs to allocate physical resources.
