MINIX 3

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**MINIX^[1]**

Website:	MINIX3.org
Company/ developer:	Andrew S. Tanenbaum^[1]
OS family:	Unix-like^[2]
Source model:	Open source^[1]
Latest stable release:	3.1.2a^[3] / 29 May 2006^[3]
Kernel type:	Microkernel^[1]
Default user interface:	ash^[4]
License:	BSD license^[1]
Working state:	Current^[1]

MINIX 3 is a project with the aim to create a small, basic, yet reliable and functional Unix-like operating system. The main goal of the project is for the system to be reliable. The part of it running in so-called kernel mode was written in under 4000 lines of code, which makes it a very small operating system.^[1] It is published under the BSD license. The main use of the operating system are envisaged to be embedded systems (such as ADSL routers) as well as the education sector, such as universities or the $100 laptops.^[5]

MINIX 3 currently supports IA-32 architecture PC compatible systems. It is also possible to run MINIX under emulators or virtual machines, such as Bochs^[6]^[7], VMWare^[8] as well as Virtual PC.^[9] Ports to the PowerPC^[10] and ARM architecture^[11] are in development.

1 Goals of the project
2 Differences between MINIX 3 and prior versions
3 Books
4 See also
5 References and notes
6 Links

[edit] Goals of the project

Reflecting on the unstable nature of monolithic kernel based systems, where a driver (which has approximately 3-7 times as many bugs as a usual program) can bring down the whole system^[12], MINIX 3 aims to create an operating system that is a "reliable, self-healing, multiserver UNIX clone".^[13] In order to achieve that, drivers must be unable to crash the whole microkernel. For that to be done, each driver must be carefully monitored by a part of the system known as the reincarnation server. If a driver fails to respond to pinging from the reincarnation server, it is shut down and replaced by a fresh copy of the driver. In a monolithic system, it would be a lot easier for a driver to crash the whole kernel, something that is a lot less likely to occur in MINIX 3.^[14].

[edit] Differences between MINIX 3 and prior versions

MINIX 1 and 2 were developed as tools to help people learn about the design of operating systems. MINIX 3 does the same, and provides a modern operating system with many newer tools such as the X window system and many other UNIX applications.^[2] Prof. Tanenbaum once said, "Please be aware that MINIX 3 is not your grandfather's MINIX ... MINIX 1 was written as an educational tool ... MINIX 3 is that plus a start at building a highly reliable, self-healing, bloat-free operating system ... MINIX 1 and MINIX 3 are related in the same way as Windows 3.1 and Windows XP are: same first name."^[13] There have also been many improvements in the structure of the kernel since MINIX 2 was released, making the operating system more reliable.^[15]

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of

Minix_3

[edit] Books

Tanenbaum, Andrew S.; Albert S. Woodhull. Operating Systems: Design and Implementation. Third Edition. Prentice Hall, 2006. ISBN 0-13-142938-8.

[edit] See also

Free software Portal

Comparison of kernels

[edit] References and notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Tanenbaum, Andrew. "MINIX 3: A small, reliable free operating system:." Vrije Universiteit. 15 Jun 2006 [1].
^ ^a ^b Woodhull, Albert S.. "MINIX 3: A small, reliable free operating system:" MINIX 3 FAQ. 24 Oct 2005. Vrije Universiteit. 15 Jun 2006 [2].
^ ^a ^b ^c Tanenbaum, Andrew. "MINIX 3: A small, reliable free operating system:." Download. Vrije Universiteit. 15 Jun 2006 [3].
^ Tanenbaum, Andrew. "Programming in the MINIX 3 Environment." The MINIX 3 Operating System. 8 Jul 2006 [4].
^ "LWN.net." LWN: MINIX 3 hits the net. 28 Oct 2005. Eklektix, Inc.. 4 Jul 2006 [5].
^ Woodhull, Al. Getting Started with Minix on Bochs on Mac OS. 20 Feb 2003. 8 Jul 2006 [6].
^ Senn, Will. "OSNews.com." Virtually Minix: A Tutorial & Intro to Minix on XP via Bochs - OSNews.com. 08 Jul 2006. OSNews.com. 8 Jul 2006 [7].
^ Wagstrom, Patrick. Minix under VMWare Installation How-To. 8 Jul 2006 [8].
^ Woodhull, Al. Minix on Virtual PC: first look. 02 Jun 2005. 8 Jul 2006 [9].
^ [www.minix3.org/doc/alting_thesis.pdf]
^ [10]
^ Tanenbaum, Andrew. CSAIL Event Calendar. 25 Aug 2006 [11].
^ ^a ^b Tanenbaum, Andrew. "Tanenbaum-Torvalds debate, Part II:." 12 May 2006. Vrije Universiteit. 15 Jun 2006 [12].
^ Tanenbaum, Andrew S.. "Reliability." The MINIX 3 Operating System. Vrije Universiteit.. 22 Jun 2006 [13]
^ Tanenbaum, Andrew. "The MINIX 3 Operating System." Improvements since V2. 05 Jul 2006 [14].