Multi-Environment Real-Time
| Company / developer | Bell Labs[1] |
|---|---|
| OS family | Real-time operating systems |
| Marketing target | Real-time computing applications |
| Supported platforms | PDP-11[1] |
| Kernel type | Microkernel[1] |
The Multi-Environment Real-Time (MERT) operating system was one of the earliest to be constructed using an organizational concept that later became known as a "micro-kernel".
Multi-Environment Real-Time was created in the 1970s at Bell Labs, and was a spinoff of Unix. It ran on Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-11 computers (models 11/45 and 11/70). A version called Duplex Multi Environment Real Time (DMERT) was the operating system for the AT&T 3B20D telephone switching minicomputer; DMERT was renamed UNIX-RTR (Real-Time Reliable) in 1982.[2]
Although it was not exactly a micro-kernel as they are today, it was a definitely not a "monolithic kernel"; it was a major step down the road to micro-kernels (Altinsel). MERT was an operating system which was divided up into several semi-independent components, all of which ran on a lower-level "kernel" (as they described it).
The kernel provided only the lowest-level basic mechanisms (memory management, process scheduling, etc.); the other components needed for an operating system (e.g. a file system) were constructed as processes which ran on top of the kernel. Inter-process communication (IPC) was done with messages, event flags, shared memory and shared files.[1]
MERT was also intended to be used in real-time applications, and had a number of features to meet this goal. Process scheduling had real-time mechanisms, as did the file system.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bayer, D. L.; Lycklama, H. (1975). "MERT - a multi-environment real-time operating system". Fifth ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles. Austin, TX. doi:10.1145/800213.806519. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ↑ D. E. Bodenstab, T. F. Houghton, K. A. Kelleman, G. Ronkin, and E. P. Schan (October 1984). "UNIX Operating System Porting Experiences" (PDF). AT&T Bell Laboratories Technical Journal 63 (8): 9. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- Lycklama, H.; Bayer, D. L. (July–August 1978). "The MERT Operating System". Bell System Technical Journal 57 (6): 2049–2086.
- Kane, J. R.; Anderson, R. E.; McCabe, P. S. (January 1983). "The 3B20D Processor & DMERT Operating System: Overview, Architecture, and Performance of DMERT". Bell System Technical Journal 62 (1): 291–301.
- Grzelakowski, M. E.; Campbell, J. H.; Dubman, M. R. (January 1983). "The 3B20D Processor & DMERT Operating System: DMERT Operating System". Bell System Technical Journal 62 (1): 303–322.
- Altinsel, M. 1983. "Resourceful Uses of M.E.R.T". Scientific Philosophy, October 6, 1983