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Compare monolithic vs microkernel OS designs.
FresherFundamentalsOperating Systems
Monolithic vs microkernel
For Compare monolithic vs microkernel OS designs., interviewers listen for a crisp definition, how the pieces interact in a real system, and one trade-off or failure mode you have seen or would guard against.
| Monolithic (Linux) | Microkernel (QNX, seL4 ideas) | |
|---|---|---|
| Services | Drivers/sched in kernel space | Minimal kernel, drivers in user space |
| Performance | Fast syscalls | More IPC overhead |
| Reliability | Driver bug can crash kernel | Fault isolation better |
Linux is monolithic but uses loadable modules—practical hybrid.