Modular Kernel: Difference between revisions

A modular kernel is an attempt to merge the good points of kernel-level drivers and third-party drivers. In a modular kernel, some part of the system core will be located in independantindependent files called _modules_ that can be added to the system at run time. Depending on the content of those modules, the goal can vary such as:

The basic goal remains however the same: keep what is loaded at boot-time minimal while still allowing the kernel to perform more complex functions. The basics of modular kernel are very close to what we find in implementation of _plugins_''plugins'' in applications or _dynamic''dynamic libraries_libraries'' in general.

: This contains additionnaladditional information about the core and loaded modules that the module loader needs in order to _link_''link'' a new module to the existing kernel.

: As soon as you want to _unload_''unload'' some module, you'll have to know whether you can do it or not. Especially, if a module _X_''X'' has requested symbols from module _Z_''Z'', trying to unload _Z_''Z'' while _X_''X'' is present in the system is likely to cause havoc.