A monolithic kernel is a kernel architecture where the entire kernel is run in kernel space in supervisor mode. In common with other architectures (microkernel, hybrid kernels), the kernel defines a high-level virtual interface over computer hardware, with a set of primitives or system calls to implement operating system services such as process management, concurrency, and memory management in one or more modules.

Monolithic kernel examples

Unix-like kernels

• Agnix (educational)
  Linux
  Syllable
  Unix kernels
  
  
  
  • BSDs
    Solaris
    DOS
    
    
    
    • DR-DOS
      MS-DOS
      NX-DOS [1]
      
      
      
      • Microsoft Windows 9x series (95, 98, 98SE, Me)
        Mac OS kernel, up to Mac OS 8.6
        OpenVMS
        XTS-400
        K286
        KOS (operating system)[2]