The Windows 2000, XP, Vista Systems

Design Principles

• Layered time-sharing system with micro kernals
• OOD --> processes, threads, events mutexes, timers, etc.
• Demand paging
• DLL's and HAL
• I/O Caching.
• Compatible w/old Windows and MS-DOS systems(complexity).

Files

• Sequence of bytes
• File system -- multi-layered tree
• Path names, root
• Clusters and FATs(old). Disk sectors usually 4K bytes as are memory pages.
• MFT

Processes

• Threads.
• Extra state: Standby.
• CPU skeds:
  • Priority Q's --- employs aging and time accumulation to adjust priorities.
  • 32 Priorities(lower 16 for users).
  • Real-time vs Variable(normal)
• Exceptions
• Interprocess Communications:
  • Shared memory. Not in old sys, just in new.
  • RPC - DPC - ISR
  • LPC
  • Ports and Message Q's.

Memory Mgmt

• Paging --- Global FIFO replacement policy and Multi-page load after fault.
• Multi-level Page Table. (3-part address)
• 30 page default Working Set.
• OS "steals" pages.

Vista

• Paging --- Buddy Blocks
• Enhanced Security?????
• H/W based GUI (Aero)
• Ipv6
• Lots of little enhancements
• Cost & Licensing issues

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