Patent ID: 8527989
Filing Date: 2013-09-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: scanning a first of a plurality of instances of an operating system, when the first of the plurality of instances of the operating system is created, to find an application that requires a kernel extension file; determining that the first of the plurality of instances of the operating system stores the kernel extension file associated with the application installed on the first of the plurality of the instances of the operating system before receiving a request to load a kernel extension in a kernel; storing a file name of the kernel extension; receiving a request to load the kernel extension in a kernel, wherein the request to load the kernel extension is sent by a first of the plurality of instances of the operating system, wherein the plurality of instances of the operating system are managed by a second of the plurality of the instances of the operating system, wherein the plurality of the instances of the operating system share the kernel; recording an indicator that indicates that the first of the plurality of the instances of the operating system requested to load the kernel extension, wherein the indicator is accessible only to the second of the plurality of the instances of the operating system; loading the kernel extension, wherein loading the kernel extension extends functionality of the kernel; receiving a request by the first of the plurality of the instances of the operating system to remove the functionality from the kernel; determining, based on the indicator, that the first of the plurality of the instances of the operating system requested to load the kernel extension; and removing the functionality from the kernel in response to the determining, based on the indicator, that the first of the plurality of the instances of the operating system requested to load the kernel extension.