Question:

(a) (i) What is a microkernel? Describe the benefits of using microkernels.

(ii) How does a microkernel-based operating system differ from a traditional operating system?

(iii) Give examples of O.S that fall into the two above categories.

(b) (i) Many security researchers have assumed that criminals would focus their attacks on cryptanalysis. List at least 2 reasons why this is rarely true, explain their significance, and give an example that illustrates each.

(ii) Explain what is security policy and what are the corresponding mechanisms in the case of a multi-user operating system such as UNIX.

(c) (i) List the sequence of basic operations that make up a server process in the basic client-server model. (For the purposes of this question, you can ignore the need to establish a connection across a network, and assume clients are already connected to the server).

(ii) How does the client process implement the request/reply timing with this server process?

(d) What are the major issues that need to be addressed in designing a distributed operating system?