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A '''Distributed operating system''' is the logical cumulative aggregation of operating system software within a Distributed System. The distributed operating system – considered collectively – is the foundation for coordinated operation of the distributed system’s independent and autonomous computational nodes.<ref name="LSF">Tanenbaum, Andrew S. 1993 Distributed operating systems anno 1992. What have we learned so far? Distributed Systems Engineering, 1, 1 (1993), 3-10</ref> Individual system nodes each contain a discrete subset of the global system’s operating system software. A given node’s system software set reveals a clean division – both physically and logically – between two distinct providers of services.<ref name="CDS">Nutt, G. J. 1992 Centralized and Distributed Operating Systems. Prentice Hall Press.</ref>
The first is a minimal, low-level, node-servicing kernel, situated directly above the bare-metal of a node’s hardware. The kernel provides the foundation for all node-level activities. The second is a higher-level collection of system-servicing management components and services, the System Management Servers. This collection of globally-connected management components exists immediately above the microkernel, and below any user applications or APIs that might reside at higher levels.<ref name="TLD">Distributed Operating Systems: The Logical Design, 1st edition Goscinski, A. 1991 Distributed Operating Systems: the Logical Design. 1st. Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc.</ref> These two entities, the kernel and the management components collection, work together in supporting the distributed operating system’s goal of seamlessly integrating all network-connected resources and functionality into an efficient,
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=== The Kernel ===
The Kernel is a minimal, but complete set of node-level utilities necessary for access to a node’s underlying hardware and resources. These mechanisms provide the complete set of “building-blocks” essential for node operation; mainly low-level allocation, management, and disposition of a node’s resources, processes, communication, and I/O management support functions. These functions are made possible by exposing a concise, yet comprehensive array of primitive mechanisms and services. The kernel is arguably the primary consideration in a distributed operating system; however, within the kernel, the subject of foremost importance is that of a well-structured and highly-efficient communications sub-system.<ref
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