Evolution of the Windows Kernel Architecture - Win7 and Beyond

<!--HTML--><p align="justify"> The core architecture of the Windows kernel differs significantly from UNIX, though many of the functions are necessarily similar. This talk will cover the Windows kernel architecture, focusing on areas of difference from UNIX. Then some specific recent kernel changes will be described: integrity levels, removalof the hottest kernel locks, and the move towards user-mode scheduling to support the ConcRT task-based concurrency run-time. Finally, the talk will lookat some of the OS challenges ahead due to the silicon power-wall and the resulting heterogeneous multi-core/many-core systems that will dominate the PC landscape within a few years. </p> <h4>About the speaker</h4> <p align="justify"> Dave Probert is a kernel architect within the Windows Core Operating Systems Division at Microsoft where he is currently working on the next generations of Windows. He is also the architect for the Windows Academic Program, developing both the WRK package and ProjectOZ. Previously he managed kernel development for Windows, starting with the Windows 2000 release. Dave Probert joined Microsoft in 1996, after earning his Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering at UC Santa Barbara developing the SPACE project with Prof. John Bruno. His prior industry experience includes serving as Vice President of Software Engineering at Culler Scientific Systems, consulting for various companies on UNIX kernel internals, and working as a systems architect at Burroughs corporation designinghardware and writing microcode for the B1900. During Spring Quarter 2009 Dave Probert taught the undergraduate operating systems course at University of Washington's Bothell campus using Windows. </p>