Archive for the 'ETHZ' Category

Dave Probert, Microsoft (Windows Core Operating Systems Division), Redmond

Architecture & Design of the Windows Kernel

download calendar entry

Abstract
There are arguably only two flavors of operating systems that matter today in the commercial world. The most widely deployed OS is Windows, but there has been relatively little information available about its internals until recently. This talk will present some of the more interesting aspects of the Windows kernel, and how it contrasts with Unix—particularly with respect to key design decisions. The talk will conclude with a discussion of the challenges facing operating systems, and some speculation about the future. The source code for the core of the Windows kernel, the original design documents, and a collection of slide-ware describing the architecture will be handed out during the talk.

About the speaker
Dave Probert is a kernel architect within the Windows Core Operating Systems Division at Microsoft where he is currently working on the next generations of Windows. Dave is also the architect for the Windows Academic Program, developing both the WRK package and ProjectOZ. Previously Dave managed kernel development for Windows, starting with the Windows 2000 release. Dave joined Microsoft in 1996, after earning his Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering at UC Santa Barbara developing the SPACE project with Prof. John Bruno. His prior industry experience includes serving as Vice President of Software Engineering at Culler Scientific Systems, consulting for various companies on UNIX kernel internals, and working as a systems architect at Burroughs Corporation designing hardware and writing microcode for the B1900.