A pseudo-device is a mechanism in the Sprite network file system that lets a user-level server process emulate a file or I/O device. Pseudo-devices are accessed like regular files or devices, and they exist in the file system name space. Pseudo-devices are implemented by transparently mapping client operations on the pseudo-device into a request-response exchange with a server process. The interface to pseudo-devices is general enough to be a transport mechanism for a user-level RPC system. It also provides a stream-oriented interface with write-behind and read-ahead for an asynchronous connection between clients and server. Sprite uses pseudo-devices to implement at user level its terminal drivers, the internet protocol suite, and the X-11 window system server. The pseudo-device implementation provides as fast or faster communication, both local and remote, than a UNIX UDP socket connection.
Title
Pseudo Devices: User-Level Extensions to the Sprite File System
Published
1988-06-01
Full Collection Name
Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences Technical Reports
Other Identifiers
CSD-88-424
Type
Text
Extent
14 p
Archive
The Engineering Library
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