Hurd

(operating system)The GNU project's replacement for theUnix kernel. The Hurd is a collection of servers thatrun on the Mach microkernel to implement file systems,network protocols, file access control, and other featuresthat are implemented by the Unix kernel or similar kernelssuch as Linux. The GNU C Library provides the Unixsystem call interface, and calls the Hurd for services itcan't provide itself.

The Hurd aims to establish a framework for shared developmentand maintenance, allowing a broad range of users to shareprojects without knowing much about the internal workings ofthe system - projects that might never have been attemptedwithout freely available source, a well-designed interface,and a multi-server-based design.

Currently there are free ports of the Mach kernel to theIntel 80386 IBM PC, the DEC PMAX workstation, theLuna 88k, with more in progress, including the Amiga andDEC Alpha-3000 machines.

According to Thomas Bushnell, BSG, the primary architect ofthe Hurd: 'Hurd' stands for 'Hird of Unix-Replacing Daemons'and 'Hird' stands for 'Hurd of Interfaces Representing Depth'.Possibly the first software to be named by a pair of mutually recursive acronyms.

The Hurd Home.

[June 1994 GNU's Bulletin].

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