In-kernel web server

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.

Drawbacks

Security: Kernel processes run with unlimited privileges.
Portability. Every kernel needs a specific implementation route.
Reliability. Failure in the webserver may crash the OS.

Implementations

illumos/Solaris: NCAkmod aka Network Cache and Accelerator (NCA) kernel module
HP-UX: NSAhttp
Linux: TUX
Mesibo In-kernel real-time messaging server
Windows NT: http.sys (part of IIS)
SPIN: http
OpenVMS: WASD.trap

See also

Comparison of web server software

References

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