In kernel web server

Updated on Nov 21, 2023

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An in-kernel web server is an unlimited HTTP server that runs in kernel space or equivalent. It is also called "accelerator".

Benefits

Performance. The path taken by data from disk to network. Proper asynchronous zero-copy interfaces would make this available from user-space.

Scalability with respect to number of simultaneous clients. Event notification of comparable scalability seems unlikely in user-space¹.

Security: Kernel processes run with unlimited privileges.

Portability. Every kernel needs a specific implementation route.

Reliability. Failure in the webserver may crash the OS.

illumos/Solaris: NCAkmod aka Network Cache and Accelerator (NCA) kernel module

HP-UX: NSAhttp

Linux: TUX

Windows NT: http.sys (part of IIS)

SPIN: http

OpenVMS: WASD.trap

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