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Why did they use Minix and not e.g. L4 or sel4? Which version of Minix did they actually use? There is Minix v3.1 (released in 2005 with the book), 3.2 (releas

by Rochus 2y ago

Why did they use Minix and not e.g. L4 or sel4? Which version of Minix did they actually use? There is Minix v3.1 (released in 2005 with the book), 3.2 (released in 2012) and 3.3 (released in 2014).

actionfromafar 2y ago
Or Minix 2?
michh 2y ago
As to why, no idea. I guess some engineer was just familiar with it from their undergrad days like the rest of us. And which version, I know it’s MINIX 3 but beyond that? No idea. They probably heavily modified it and as Minix is not GPL, Intel never published it. Based on the timelines it’s likely 3.1 as the ME platform has heen around since approximately 2007 iirc.
- Rochus 2y ago
  > it’s likely 3.1 as the ME platform has heen around since approximately 2007 Then I guess it's one of the 3.1.3x versions released in 2007 (see https://github.com/Stichting-MINIX-Research-Foundation/minix/tags https://github.com/Stichting-MINIX-Research-Foundation/minix...), or maybe 3.1.2 from 2006, depending how long hey had to implement the ME.
looperhacks 2y ago
The original L4 (I believe) wasn't commercially available und sel4 is GPL licensed. Minix has a BSD license, so maybe that's why
- LeFantome 2y ago
  100% because of the license
- Rochus 2y ago
  The original L4 was written in assembler and replaced by different other implementations long before the ME platform was developed. Pistachio was in development around that time and available under BSD.
snvzz 2y ago
Besides what others pointed out, Minix3 is engineered for fault tolerance foremost. seL4 has different goals.
sillywalk 2y ago
AIUI Sel4 is just a kernel, so adding all the "management engine crap" - networking stacks, drivers etc. would be a lot of work. Minix came with 'batteries' included.