The nucleus of an operating system. It is the closest part to the machine level and may activate the hardware directly or interface to another software layer that drives the hardware. The kernel orchestrates the entire operation of the computer by slicing time for each system function and each application as well as managing all the computer's resources. It typically resides in memory at all times. See microkernel, monolithic kernel, kernel space and kernel panic.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Is Microsoft a dinosaur to Google's mammal?
- Random comments...How odd the mixed metaphors sound... "built from the ground up to work in the cloud"...The dinosaurs were around for tens of millions of years, and we mammals can barely say the same. The crown of creation can be wrested from the head of the wearer by something unforeseen--like...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-02
- Yes, based on Mac history, Windows 7.5 will suck less
- Ummmm..."Windows 1: Shipped in 1985 and nobody cared.Windows 2: Shipped in 1987 and few cared.Windows 3: Came out in 1990 and PC users cared, especially with Windows 3.1 in 1992 (And I include here the introduction of Windows NT, which I believe was given a 3.x number.)Windows 4: Windows 95....
- Discussion threads 2009-11-01
- A visit to Microsoft's first store
- I missed an explanation as to why...I should shop there."Three rows of tables displayed hardware from Dell, HP, Sony and Lenovo."The big chains sell those already. Why would I go to a Windows store to buy Dells, HPs, Sonys and Lenovos, when there are several sources for those same computers...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-30
- Ubuntu 9.10 advances Canonical's cloud, enterprise goals
- Ubuntu 9.10 advances Canonical's ambitious push into cloud computing -- and the enterprise. Ubuntu is best known for its Linux desktop and there are several desktop improvements in this upgrade -- including a faster boot and login and enhanced audio and and 3G broadband connectivity. ...
- Blog posts 2009-10-29
- Ubuntu 9.10 = easiest, cheapest upgrade ever
- Worst OS ever! You should read what Dana Blankhorn had to say about your beloved linux! I'll give you a hint, its not good. I can't believe they would release a distro with known harddrive bugs. I'm going to laugh at you when you lose all your data due...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-29
- Microsoft partners to allow Eclipse interop on Win7, WinServer 2008 R2, Azure
- Eclipse should decline the 'plug ins'M$ only ries to extend and extinguish here folks!Self interests always......Isn't that what most things revolve around? I'm sure that if Linux had a chance to extend and draw to its platform by working with Microsoft it would, unless they are too stupid to...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-28
- BlueGem Total Privacy Google Apps Edition 2.0 (Windows)
- BlueGem Total Privacy Google apps Edition provides a patented, multi-layered, keystroke encryption and anti-theft protection to Google apps. It encrypts all keystrokes between the keyboard and the web browser Google apps, which safeguards your critical information such as ID/Password, Gmail, Google Docs. The protection automatically recognizes when you visit Google...
- Software downloads 2009-10-27
- Mac ZFS is dead: RIP.
- fortunatelywhile zfs is cool, there are enough other file systems, so we users won't miss it muchHow about EXT4 and BTRFS?What do you think of EXT4 and it's destined successor, BTRFS?NTFSActualy has similar features to most of these but maybe its not implemented as well.Apple picks NetApp WAFL over...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-26
- IPSecuritas 3.4 (Mac)
- IPSecuritas is a front-end of the Mac OS X IPSec subsystem built in the kernel and allows to configure and establish secure IP tunnels between your machine or network with a remote network for example your office network using the non-secure services offered by the Internet. IPSec is a well-defined...
- Software downloads 2009-10-26
- Lotus Notes Local Security Removal 9.10.01 (Windows)
- Kernel for NSF Local Security Removal software removes local security from Lotus Notes NSF database file with much ease and maintaining the NSF file integrity. Being an unprivileged NSF file user, you get error messages like, You are not authorized to access that database, or You are not authorized to...
- Software downloads 2009-10-26
- Finally, some answers to Windows 7 upgrade questions
- Except that most software is not 64-bitnor are most drivers. Also, you have a nasty Microsoft enforced warning screen if you are trying to use non-signed drivers each time you boot. Not a killer, but stupid and annoying.Also, as someone else pointed out, if you don't have at least 4...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-25
- Ding Dong, The Vista's DEAD!
- This Halloween, let's all celebrate what we're really feeling: The Wicked Vista is DEAD! In the United States, we've got a bunch of frivolous holidays. I've always regarded Halloween as a particularly frivolous holiday, one in which we encourage our...
- Blog posts 2009-10-24
- Give Jim Whitehurst his due and proper
- Soon Red Hat will surpass M$ in market sharePeople are tired of paying M$ tax and are switching to the better alternative: Red Hat.I think that is agressive statement that is not likeyI agree with you partly. Some people are dissassified with paying the Microsoft price. However like apple people...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-23
- EWDraw 3D ActiveX 7.1.6 (Windows)
- EWDraw 3D ActiveX is a vector graphics ActiveX for 3D and 2D visualization and animation. You can use it for CAD, CAM, and GIS. The EWDraw 3D ActiveX is based on open cascade geometric kernel and openGL. The library is realized as a run-time Windows 32 bit ActiveX control. Either...
- Software downloads 2009-10-23
- Apple ad swings at Windows 7: 'Trust me, this time it's going to be different'
- Hilarious! Apple is getting quite bold these days, I think they smell bloodNT.Just like Snow Leopard was supposed to fix all that was wrong with LeopardBut it didn't. :(Poor Apple, that sound you hear of glass shattering is not the sound of Windows, it is the glass house in which...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-22
- Windows 7's latest fan: Linus Torvalds
- This is great news! This picture is proof positive that Linus T. is ditching linux because it was so bloated and scarey that he is converting to Microsoft Windows 7. If the leader of linux is doing it then we can say it won't be long before the rest...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-22
- Stallman admits GPL flawed, proprietary licensing needed to pay for MySQL development
- You really believe that?Look at Red Hat. $5.1 Bln market cap and they're not making *any* money with free software? There is plenty of money out there for consulting services and support. Just ask IBM.Proprietary software is not religion.The problem with Sun was that they couldn't commit either...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-22
- Clients: fat vs. thin, net vs. note
- Can I suggestNetbooks with Win 7. Just installed it on a useless Linux netbook and it works fine and only cost me A$399 (which now is almost the same as US ;-))For once try and rein in your hobby horse and let the students join the new millenium.On and...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-19
- SCO story ends with a whimper
- William Shakespear should have expanded on his "first ... the lawyers" bit!It is hard to feel sorry for people who go crying all the way to the bank!BAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!Good riddance.Someone remind meThis turned out exactly how Bitty/No Ax predicted, right?: o )SCO Xenix & UnixRather sad that their expertise at delivering...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-19
- Microsoft: Human error caused critical SMB2 vulnerability
- did not explain why the fix was not back-ported to Windows Vista and other That very bad. I was wondering this myself when news broke that Win 7 was not vulnerable.What were they thinking? Fixing a bug and "forgetting" that other versions may actually be vulnerable?Or had they actually recorded...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-19
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