LAOS

Latency Awareness in Operating Systems

(Third Party Funds Single)

Project leader: Wolfgang Schröder-Preikschat
Project members: Gabor Drescher, Stefan Reif
Start date: 1. May 2011
End date: 30. May 2013
Extension Date: 30. April 2020
Acronym: LAOS
Funding source: DFG-Einzelförderung / Sachbeihilfe (EIN-SBH)

Abstract:

The goal of the LAOS project is to investigate in the efficient use of modern many-core processors on operating system level. Thereby providing low latency operating system services even in high contention cases. 
Self-made minimal kernels providing thread and interrupt management, as well as synchronization primitives are analyzed with respect to performance and scaling characteristics. These kernels consist of different architectural designs and alternative implementations. Strong focus lies on non-blocking implementations on parts, or if possible, on the whole operating system kernel. Standard Intel x86-64 compatible processors are the main target hardware because of their popularity in high-performance parallel computing, server and desktop systems. After careful analysis, modifications of existing kernels e.g. Linux may be possible that increase the performance in highly parallel systems.