Microkernels (WAS RE: New to the list.)

[Ray Arachelian]

Don wrote:
> Ray Arachelian wrote:
>>
>> see: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/04/hackers_bypass_os/ and
>> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/03/wifi_driver_hack/
>
> Exactly.  All the *cost* of crossing protection domains
> has the implied benefit of *enforcing* those protections.
> So, maybe the "wifi server" or "ethernet server" dies and
> you lose that *capability* -- but the rest of the system
> keeps on ticking.
>

Even better, you don't lose that functionality, you restart the driver. 
So maybe you lose a few packets, or maybe you have to re-establish your
WPA/WEP session to the AP, which shouldn't take all that long.  So it's
the equivalent of a network burp.  But likely, your applications
(perhaps even ssh sessions) will keep on working, and you don't get owned.