METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING AN OPERATING SYSTEM KERNEL FROM A SHARED DISK MEMORY

The invention enables plural computers to initiate operation of respective operating systems through use of a shared operating system kernel. A system embodying the invention includes a central storage unit (e.g. a disk drive) that includes an operating system kernel, and plural computers, each computer including memory for holding an initiation boot code that enables initial startup of the respective computer upon a power up or a reset. A channel communication link provides circuit connections between the central storage unit and each of the plural computers. Each of the plural computers responds to a power-up or reset action by initiating operation of respective ones of the boot codes. Each boot code, after initiating preliminary operations, performs an access of the operating system kernel from the central storage unit via the channel communication circuit so as to enable a high speed load of the kernel to the respective computer memories. The central storage unit also includes a configuration file that defines data which is utilized to alter the kernel for each particular computer. Each computer, upon downloading the kernel, accesses the configuration file so as to enable determination of which aspects of the kernel require modification for the respective computer.