Formalising the L4 microkernel API

Authors:
Rafal Kolanski;Gerwin Klein
Affiliations:
National ICT Australia Ltd. (NICTA), The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia;National ICT Australia Ltd. (NICTA), The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Venue:
CATS '06 Proceedings of the 12th Computing: The Australasian Theroy Symposium - Volume 51
Year:
2006

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Abstract

This paper gives an overview of a pilot project on the specification and verification of the L4 high-performance microkernel. Of the three aspects examined in the project, we describe one in more detail: the formalisation of the kernel's Application Programming Interface using the B Method. We conclude that machine-supported formal verification of software is at a turning point; that it is now feasible, and desirable, to formally verify production-quality operating systems.