Best Resources to Learn about Linux Kernel Internals

The Source

The best resource is the kernel source.

• I prefer reading the cross-referenced lxr, which makes it easy to follow the code.
• Linux Networking Subsystem: Desktop Companion to the Linux Source Code. A commentary Linux networking code.
• The Linux Kernel & the File System Subsystem : An Architectural Overview. Talks about VFS in the Linux.
• Code Commentary On The Linux Virtual Memory Manager by Mel Gorman.

Challenges in Mobile (Smart Phone) Virtualization

We have virtualization on servers, desktops, laptops and what’s next? Naturally, the “smart phone”. Today’s mobile phones have become quite powerful that one can easily virtualize them and run multiple operating systems. But,

Why do you need smart phone virtualization?

Similar to desktop virtualization, the use-case is not that clear, but there are some benefits that can be gained.

1. Reducing vendor lock-in. Can you run iPhone applications on an Android phone? Currently, no, but with virtualization this might be possible. There are issues with Apple (or other vendors)’s mobile OS licensing that make it illegal to do so, right now. You can only run iOS on Apple approved devices, but this may change in the future. Many old phones have legacy applications and libraries that can be run in virtualized sandboxes as well.
2. Mobile cloud computing. You can clearly access the so-called “cloud” from a smart phone, but if smart phones are virtualized, mobile applications can be migrated to a cloud and back seamlessly. This is still a pipe-dream and a few research platforms (MAUI and CloneCloud) are proposed to make this a reality. The benefits of doing this are enormous: one can potentially access infinite compute and storage resources on the smart phone.