ProjectOZ

Overview

An alternative to Unix-based simulators for exploring operating system (OS) principles, ProjectOZ provides an OS project environment that uses the native kernel interfaces of the Windows OS.

Details

Based on the SPACE OS research at UC Santa Barbara, ProjectOZ builds simple, clean, user-mode abstractions for the CPU, MMU, trap mechanism, and physical memory using the native NT layer of Windows, and then layers on top a simplified kernel-based OS that students can modify to perform experiments.

Because there is an actual OS (as opposed to a simulator) handling the hardware details, students have more time to explore kernels at the algorithm and data-structure levels. ProjectOZ supports experiments with multiprocessors and multicomputers on a student's single uniprocessor PC.

Use and Restrictions

Like all the components of the Windows Academic Program, ProjectOZ is for academic, non-commercial use only.

Eligibility Requirements

Any accredited higher education institution may participate in ProjectOZ. Participants must electronically accept the terms and conditions of the ProjectOZ license agreement before downloading the materials.

Customer Commitment

In exchange for obtaining access to ProjectOZ, Microsoft requests that users respect our intellectual property and adhere to the license requirements.

Your Questions

If you have questions about the Windows Academic Program, please send e-mail to compsci@microsoft.com.

You can also use the Windows Academic Program discussion forum to ask questions about ProjectOZ and share helpful information with other members of the academic community.