3 ms·

Tried to read the paper mentionned on the website, and wondered : does "libOS" /unikernel concept means that the application is built as a kernel extension, and

by bsaul 13y ago

Tried to read the paper mentionned on the website, and wondered : does "libOS" /unikernel concept means that the application is built as a kernel extension, and thus runs in kernel land ( so no context switching occures) ? Is this an explanation for the performance gains ?

edwintorok 13y ago
When you link the application with the Mirage runtime (what you refer to as "libOS") you create a new kernel. You then run that kernel directly on Xen (like you would run a Linux domU), so yes they run in kernel land. I'm not convinced that 'Xen + Mirage unikernel' has a performance advantage over 'Linux baremetal + Mirage direct mode', but I definetely see an advantage compared to 'Xen + Linux domU + Mirage direct mode'.