monolithic kernel - TarisMajor/5143-OpSystems GitHub Wiki

Monolithic Kernel

A monolithic kernel is an architecture where the entire operating system runs in kernel mode and is part of a single, large block of code. This includes core services such as process management, memory management, file systems, and device drivers. Because all components are tightly coupled and run in the same address space, monolithic kernels tend to be fast and efficient, with fewer context-switching overheads compared to other types of kernels.

However, monolithic kernels can be difficult to maintain and scale, as adding new features or components requires modifying the kernel itself, which increases the risk of system instability. Examples of monolithic kernels include Linux and traditional Unix kernels.

Sources:

Tanenbaum, A. S. (2001). Modern Operating Systems. Arpaci-Dusseau, R. H., & Arpaci-Dusseau, A. C. (2018). Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces.