Analysis of Linux kernel as a complex network

Yichao Gao, Zheng Zheng and Fangyun Qin

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 2014, vol. 69, issue C, 246-252

Abstract: Operating system (OS) acts as an intermediary between software and hardware in computer-based systems. In this paper, we analyze the core of the typical Linux OS, Linux kernel, as a complex network to investigate its underlying design principles. It is found that the Linux Kernel Network (LKN) is a directed network and its out-degree follows an exponential distribution while the in-degree follows a power-law distribution. The correlation between topology and functions is also explored, by which we find that LKN is a highly modularized network with 12 key communities. Moreover, we investigate the robustness of LKN under random failures and intentional attacks. The result shows that the failure of the large in-degree nodes providing basic services will do more damage on the whole system. Our work may shed some light on the design of complex software systems.

Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960077914001799
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:chsofr:v:69:y:2014:i:c:p:246-252

DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2014.10.008

Access Statistics for this article

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals is currently edited by Stefano Boccaletti and Stelios Bekiros

More articles in Chaos, Solitons & Fractals from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Thayer, Thomas R. ().