Getting Started with the x-kernel

Larry L. Peterson

June 1997

This note describes the procedures that should be followed to install, configure, build, and run the x-kernel as a user-level Unix process. It purposely focuses on a vanilla system. To understand all the options available to you, consult the x-kernel Programmer's Manual [1]. We assume the following throughout the rest of this note.

• You will be installing the x-kernel in directory /usr/xkernel, and this directory is reachable (via NSF, for example) from all machines on which you want to run the x-kernel . You may choose some root directory other than /usr/xkernel. If you do select another root directory, change the steps given below accordingly.

• You will be running the x-kernel on a pair of Solaris (Sparc) workstations connected by an Ethernet. We will refer to these two machines as machine A and machine B in the following discussion. If you are building the x-kernel on SunOS (on Sparc), IRIX (on SGI), or OSF/1 (on Alpha)---then substitute sunos, irix, or osf1 for solaris, respectively, in the steps that follow. If you are running the x-kernel on Linux (on Alpha or x86), then substitute linux-alpha or linux-x86, respectively, for solaris.

• Ten Step Process
• Troubleshooting
• Other Things to Try
• References
• About this document ...