Re: How to develop a random number generation device



John Larkin wrote:

My point is that large numbers of CPU cores *will* become common and
cheap, and we need a new type of OS to take advantage of this new
reality. Done right, it could be simple and astoundingly secure and
reliable.

Dear John,
Try developing a perfect OS of your own. I did. That was a very enlightening experience of why certain things have to be done by the certain ways. Particular questions welcome.


Well, I remember 64-bit static rams, and 256-bit DRAMS. I can't see
any reason we couldn't have 256 or 1024 cpu's on a chip, especially if
a lot of them are simple integer RISC machines.

1024 CPUs = 1048576 software interfaces and a hell of the bus arbitration.

I'd be happy to waste a little silicon if I could have an OS that
doesn't crash and that doesn't go to sleep for seconds at a time for
no obvious reason.

The weak link is a developer. It is obviously more difficult to develop multicore stuff; hence it is a higher probability of flaws.


Multiple cores gives absolutely no benefits in terms of reliability or stability - indeed, it opens all sorts of possibilities for hard-to-debug race conditions.

Especially if you remember about the 50-page silicon erratas for pretty much any modern CPU.


They don't if you insist on running a copy of a bloated OS on each. A
system designed, from scratch, to run on a pool of cheap CPUs could be
incredibly reliable.

What do you think in particular would be better for a typical desktop applications?

It's gonna happen.

You have to listen to the screams of the SEL software developers...


Vladimir Vassilevsky
DSP and Mixed Signal Design Consultant
http://www.abvolt.com
.

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