The Case for Run-Time Replaceable Kernel Modules

The run-time replacement of core kernel modules allows applications to solve feature-deficiency, performance, and version-skew problems. Seamless replacement at run time, which allows active applications to continue undisturbed, is particularly important for a consumer environment. Consumers can’t deal with difficult or intrusive upgrades of operating system software. Consumer applications, like real-time games, often have stringent performance requirements that are difficult to anticipate and satisfy with a static system. This proposal attempts to establish run-time module replacement as a possible solution, worthy of further research. The solution outlined here has two major components, interface decomposition and run-time replacement. Microsoft’s Component Object Model, part of Cairo and OLE, lays the foundation by making interfaces an explic it abstraction on which applications can operate. The proposed implementation of run-time replacement draws ideas from process migration.