System Generation (SYSGEN)

~ Operating systems are designed to run on any of a class
of machines; the system must be configured for each
specific computer site.

~ SYSGEN program obtains information concerning the
specific configuration of the hardware system.

~ Booting – starting a computer by loading the kernel.

~ Bootstrap program – code stored in ROM that is able to
locate the kernel, load it into memory, and start its
execution.

~ How to generate a system?
- Recompile
- Cause the creation of tables and selection of modules from a precompiled library
Link modules together to form the generated OS
SYSGEN is faster, but the generated OS may be overly general
- Completed table driven
All the code is always part of the system, and selection occurs at execution time
Most modern OS are constructed in this manner

~ Size and generality of the generated system and the ease of modification as the hardware configuration changes