Understanding Kernel in layman's terms

Job of Kernel

Kernel's job is to help both the hardware and software communicate with each other. It talks to the hardware using the drivers which are included in the kernel.

For e.g. When you are watching any video and you wish to raise the volume of the speaker, the video player application submits this request to the kernel. Now, the kernel uses the driver, which it has for speakers to increase the volume.

Other tasks of Kernel

Kernel handles the complicated job of managing the resources efficiently. It should keep checking the availability of memory in your system and place the required applications in the proper memory location. It is also responsible for completing any internal task quickly by optimizing the usage of the processor and preventing the deadlocks.

 

Linux is a Kernel

There is always a confusion about Linux, whether it is an Operating System or it is a kernel. If an Operating system comes only with a kernel, then it is of no use. Besides the kernel, there are a lot of other applications bundled with the kernel to make it a complete package, called as Operating System. That is, an OS has user space along with a kernel space in it.

Since Linux does not include any applications like file system utilities, windowing systems and graphical desktops, system administrator commands, text editors, compilers, etc, we can call it as a kernel. When the above mentioned applications are added to a Linux kernel, it comes out as ubuntu, suse, centOS, redHat or other OS.

Types of Kernel

1. Monolithic Kernel

Monolithic kernel is a basis for Linux, Unix, MS-DOS and Mac OS. This architecture uses only kernel space to perform all the tasks. It is said to be largest compared to other kernels because they have to deal with many aspects of computer processing at the lowest level, and also have to incorporate code that interfaces with many devices, I/O and interrupt channels, and other hardware operators.

This kernel architecture included all the services in one module which resulted in consumption of huge space and low maintainability. Later, these services were modularized to solve this issue. Adding new services, loading and unloading of modules, compiling of any specific module became easier in this new architecture.

2. Micro Kernel

This architecture uses user space instead of kernel space, to run some basic services like device driver management, protocol stack, file system etc. This not only reduces the kernel size but also increases the security and stability of OS. Here, all the basic services which are part of user space are made to run as servers which are used by other programs in the system through inter process communication (IPC).

3. Hybrid Kernel

This architecture combines the aspects and benefits of micro kernel and monolithic kernel architectures used in computer operating systems.

So here you go. You are now able to answer the questions related to kernel, and its uses without any fear.