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A user-mode port of the Linux kernel1

Jeff Dike

Abstract:

The Linux kernel has been ported so that it runs on itself, in a set of Linux processes. The result is a user space virtual machine using simulated hardware constructed from services provided by the host kernel. A Linux virtual machine is capable of running nearly all of the applications and services available on the host architecture. This paper describes the capabilities of a user-mode virtual machine, the design and implementation of the port, some of the applications that it lends itself to, and some of the work that remains to be done.





Jeff Dike 2000-08-25