Providing a Linux API on the Scalable K42 Kernel

K42 is an open-source research kernel targeted for 64-bit cache-coherent multiprocessor systems. It was designed to scale up to multiprocessor systems containing hundreds or thousands of processors and to scale down to perform well on 2- to 4-way multiprocessors. K42's goal was to re-design the core of an operating system, but not an entire application environment. This paper presents the motivation behind K42, including its goals and overall structure, and describe its system interface. They then focus on the required infrastructure and mechanisms needed to efficiently support a Linux application environment. The paper examines the lessons learned of what was advantageous and what was disadvantageous from K42 in implementing the Linux API and ABI.