D11: a high-performance, protocol-optional, transport-optional window system with X11 compatibility and semantics

Mark J. Kilgard
Silicon Graphics, Inc.

Abstract:

This paper proposes a new window system architecture called D11 that seeks higher performance while preserving compatibility with the industry-standard X11 window system. D11 reinvents the X11 client/server architecture using a new operating system facility similar in concept to the Unix kernel's traditional implementation but designed for user-level execution. This new architecture allows local D11 programs to execute within the D11 window system kernel without compromising the window system's integrity. This scheme minimizes context switching, eliminates protocol packing and unpacking, and greatly reduces data copying. D11 programs fall back to the X11 protocol when running remote or connecting to an X11 server. A special D11 program acts as an X11 protocol translator to allow X11 programs to utilize a D11 window system.

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Window System Trends
  • 2.1 Network Extensibility Considered
  • 2.2 Future Trends for High Bandwidth Applications
  • 2.3 Protection and Reliability
  • 2.4 X11 Compatibility
• 3 Reinventing X11
  • 3.1 Protocol Optional, Transport Optional
  • 3.2 Private X Resources
  • 3.3 Benefits
• 4 Other Approaches
  • 4.1 Shared Memory Transport
  • 4.2 Direct Graphics Hardware Access
• 5 The Active Context
  • 5.1 Initiating an Active Context
  • 5.2 Protected Procedure Calls
  • 5.3 Augmenting the Address Space
  • 5.4 Active Context Notification
  • 5.5 Implementation Issues for Active Contexts
• 6 Implementing D11
  • 6.1 Within the D11 Active Context
  • 6.2 The D11 Interface Library
  • 6.3 Handling Client and Server Termination
  • 6.4 X11 Protocol to D11 Conversion
  • 6.5 Implementation Concerns
• 7 Conclusions
• References
• About this document ...