Introduction to Nachos

The rest of this document attempts to provide a road map through Nachos. It is not intended to replace the need for reading the source code; rather, it this document attempts to speed up the learning process by describing ``the big picture.''

Section 2 provides an overview of the underlying machine that Nachos simulates and runs on top of. Section 12 describes Nachos threads and the mechanics of scheduling, synchronization and thread switching. Section 4 describes how user-level programs execute as separate processes within their own private address spaces. Section 5 provides an overview of the filesystem implementation. Section 6 reports on experience using Nachos to teach operating systems courses, and provides specific suggestions on individual assignments.