Hi,
it's quite some time since I last had a look at L4 and a lot seems to have happened since then. As I'm planning to use a L4-derived microkernel as basis for a research project here at Marburg University, I have some questions for the experts...
The currently maintained L4-compatible microkernels seem to be Fiasco (Dresden) and L4KA::Hazelnut/Pistachio (Karlsruhe). Is there a document describing the differences/compatibility between the various versions, probably comparing these implementations to the original L4 kernel?
The platform for my project will probably be a AMD "Hammer"-based system (e.g. Athlon 64 or Opteron). Is there already work underway to run Fiasco or L4KA in 64-bit mode on the x86-64 CPUs? If not, I'm thinking about starting an effort to port one of the kernels (based on the x86-32 version). Which do you think would be most appropriate?
Btw., the squirrel on the L4KA web pages is quite cute ;-) - is there a high-res bitmap or vector graphics version of the logo available?
My last question concerns L4Linux. The most recent version seems to be based on kernel 2.2.25. Are there any plans to adapt a more recent Linux kernel version, like 2.4 or the upcoming 2.6, as a L4 personality? (I'm aware that this might involve a lot of work...)
Best regards, Michael
Michael,
On Sun, 2003-11-16 at 13:13, Michael Engel wrote:
The platform for my project will probably be a AMD "Hammer"-based system (e.g. Athlon 64 or Opteron). Is there already work underway to run Fiasco or L4KA in 64-bit mode on the x86-64 CPUs? If not, I'm thinking about starting an effort to port one of the kernels (based on the x86-32 version). Which do you think would be most appropriate?
I ported L4KA::Pistachio to the AMD64 architecture last spring. It runs in 64-bit mode, and the port is actually finished. The reason why it has not been released yet is my absence from the University, since I am currently doing an internship. "Actually finished" means that I did not run and test Pistachio/AMD64 on real hardware yet - I used SIMICS to implement the stuff. I'll probably run and test it on an AMD64 box in the near future, that is, after I have returned to Karlsruhe in January 2004.
Regards, -Jan
The platform for my project will probably be a AMD "Hammer"-based system (e.g. Athlon 64 or Opteron). Is there already work underway to run Fiasco or L4KA in 64-bit mode on the x86-64 CPUs? If not, I'm thinking about starting an effort to port one of the kernels (based on the x86-32 version). Which do you think would be most appropriate?
http://l4ka.org/projects/pistachio/ia64/
[Michael Engel]
Hi, The currently maintained L4-compatible microkernels seem to be Fiasco (Dresden) and L4KA::Hazelnut/Pistachio (Karlsruhe). Is there a document describing the differences/compatibility between the various versions, probably comparing these implementations to the original L4 kernel?
Back in March I posted a short summary of the differences between the various L4 APIs.
http://os.inf.tu-dresden.de/pipermail/l4-hackers/2003/001385.html
A short summary of the summary:
o L4Ka::Pistachio implements the most recent API and supports more architectures than any other implementation. L4Ka::Pistachio is the main kernel research and development platform for the Karlsruhe and Sydeny L4 groups.
o L4Ka::Hazelnut implements an experimental API, and was only meant as a platform to try out new ideas. Development on L4Ka::Hazelnut has been discontinued.
o Fiasco implements the original API (and also the experimental API supported by L4Ka::Hazelnut). Fiasco is being developed by the Dresden L4 group.
The platform for my project will probably be a AMD "Hammer"-based system (e.g. Athlon 64 or Opteron). Is there already work underway to run Fiasco or L4KA in 64-bit mode on the x86-64 CPUs? If not, I'm thinking about starting an effort to port one of the kernels (based on the x86-32 version). Which do you think would be most appropriate?
L4Ka::Pistachio (an AMD64 port already exists, but has never been tested on real hardware).
Btw., the squirrel on the L4KA web pages is quite cute ;-) - is there a high-res bitmap or vector graphics version of the logo available?
No vector version is available. Should probably put out a more high resolution version one of these days.
My last question concerns L4Linux. The most recent version seems to be based on kernel 2.2.25. Are there any plans to adapt a more recent Linux kernel version, like 2.4 or the upcoming 2.6, as a L4 personality? (I'm aware that this might involve a lot of work...)
The L4 people have internally been using a 2.4 version for quite some time already. There has been talk about cleaning up and releasing L4Linux 2.4 for months now, but I have no idea when this will actually happen.
eSk
l4-hackers@os.inf.tu-dresden.de
-
Espen Skoglund -
Farid Hajji -
Jan Stoess -
Michael Engel