Employment History

Present - July 1999,

Sitting on a job offer from IBM, to work as a Systems Software Engineer.

Computer Knowledge and Experience

Platforms

• Most Unix workstation types: Linux (RedHat, Debian, Slackware), GNU/Hurd 0.2, Mach4 (GNUMach1.2), FreeBSD-3.0 (4.4-BSD Lite), Minix-2.0.0. Kernel Hacking in Linux, Minix, FreeBSD, GNU/Hurd in C and assembly, using gcc and related tools.
• Intel/DOS-based computers (low-level assembly language programming, device drivers, compilers, assemblers, editors, systems development using C and text-based UIs, MASM and TurboC++ 3.0, absolutely no MS Windows experience).

Languages and Environments

• C and C++ (TurboC++ 2.0 and 3.0, GCC, and Amsterdam Complier Kit CC).
• Assembly (8085/8086/80386) (masm, tasm, as, as86 and gas syntaxes; real and protected mode).
• awk, bash, perl, sed, ld, libtool, gcc, gdb, make, automake, autoconf, and related packages.
• Familiar with the core internals of Linux, Minix, FreeBSD, UNIX SVR4, GNU/Hurd and Mach4 and MS-DOS operating systems.
• Device driver writing in INTEL assembly language for the MS-DOS operating system.
• Kernel hacking in C and assembly language under Minix-2.0.0 on the i386.
• Kernel hacking in C under GNU/Hurd and Mach4.
• System programming in C and AT&T style assembly language under Linux, Minix-2.0.0, FreeBSD and GNU/Hurd on i386.
• System programming in C and INTEL style assembly language under MS-DOS on INTEL 8086/8088 processors.
• System administration in Linux (Slackware/Red Hat/Debian), Minix-2.0.0, FreeBSD, UNIX SVR4, GNU/Hurd and SunOS 5.6.
• Limited amount of exposure to XLisp1.7 and MS-COBOL.

 
Software Hacking Projects

• HEDIT, a MS-DOS 6.22 look-alike WYSIWYG text editor, written completely in assembly, without mouse support.
• CIFS for GNU/Hurd, an implementation of Common Internet File System for the GNU/Hurd operating system. The CIFS and SMB File Systems are the native file systems of SAMBA, a utility package that provides UNIX to Windows cross-platform.
• VIKING, A Virtual Distributed File System (VDFS) to provide for transparent file sharing based on the Virtual Cluster Model for Linux, with kernel VFS support. This is a radically new diskless filesystem, that comes with a /proc type VFS support, with attractive features and a fully pageable kernel server running as the arbiter and the logger, using the abstraction of VFS to provide a distributed database. Full crash recovery, node and network failure recovery, support for very large files, secure cross-network transactions, and an added superuser managed GUI tool for managing the filesystem are featured. First major release of this project will probably be in March 2000.
• PAGING FOR MINIX, A project to implement paging, and, virtual memory and the /proc filesystem for the 32-bit Minix-2.0.0 operating system on a base platform of i386 and above. This project entails extensive kernel hacking to provide a Linux-type three-tier paging system to keep the optimal page size limited to 4 kb. The /proc filesystem design modelled on the /proc filesystem used by UNIX SVR4. (I have put this project on hold due to some unavoidable reasons)

Specific Areas of Expertise and Interest

Operating Systems and Distributed Systems Research:  Currently working with microkernels and filesystems, exploring the possibility of designing a exokernel-type virtual-machine based minimal microkernel. Also working on the design of several filesystem projects, such as the memory based virtual /vtmp diskless filesystem for the Linux VFS.

 

Large-Scale Software Systems: Architecture, design, implementation, and the philosophical aspects of negotiating the systems development process in general. Mostly interested in the design and implementation of operating systems, kernels, filesystems, with expertise in microkernels.

 

Threads: Both implementation of threads packages themselves, and of multi-threaded applications that use them. Have worked extensively with various POSIX threads implementations, Pthreads, FSU Pthreads, DCE threads, LinuxThreads, Solaris threads, Mach CTHREADS, and Champollin threads for MINIX.

 

Distributed Systems: RPC/Message-passing, Group communications. Extensive experience with the Mach microkernel. Have worked on building toolkits for distributed systems.

 

Garbage Collection: Design and implementation of garbage collectors, strategies for use of GC techniques in non-traditional ways.

 

General System Programming and Administration: Shells, Daemons, low-level "glue" code, programming odd devices, etc. Have administered most kinds of Unix platforms. Contributed to the GNU GRUB project, a bootloader that conforms to the Multiboot Standard. Also wrote a clone of the MS-DOS 6.22 text editor completely in 8086 assembly. Currently working on the the CIFS for GNU/Hurd-0.2 project, a paging system for Minix-2.0.0, and a Virtual Distributed File System called 'Viking' based on a concept of user space virtual clustering for Linux.

 

Selected Publications and Technical Reports

Ashutosh S. Rajekar, The Microkernel Architecture of Operating System Design, 1999, Postscript. Annual Seminar Reports, year 1999-2000, Pune Institute of Computer Technology, University of Pune.

 

Ashutosh S. Rajekar, System calls under Linux and Minix, 1998. (Unpublished)

 

Ashutosh S. Rajekar, Nanokernel: A Device driver stub for Operating Systems, 1999, Postscript. (Unpublished)

 

Ashutosh S. Rajekar, The /vtmp Diskless File System for Linux: Design and Implementation, 1999, Postscript. (Unpublished)

 

Ashutosh S. Rajekar, The Design and Implementation of the Viking File System: A /vtmp Diskless File System for Linux, 1999, Postscript. (Unpublished)

Education

Summer 1996  - Summer 2000 (Currently Pursuing).

Pune Institute of Computer Technology, University of Pune, India.

Course of Study: Computer Engineering, with and emphasis on programming languages, systems, compiler construction, artficial intelligence, operating systems, microprocessor study including 8085,8086 and 80386 microprocessors. Discrete Structures and Graph Theory, Theory of Computer Science, Computer Organisation, Principles of Language Design, Software Engineering, Databases, Advanced Computer Architecture, Parallel Computing and Supercomputing, Advanced Computer Architecture. Four Years (Eight Semesters) as a part of fulfilment of requirements for achieving the Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Computer Engineering.
Degree Attained: Bachelor of Engineering (B. E.), Computer Engineering.

Summer 1984 - Summer 1996

St. Vincents Junior College, Pune, India

Course of Study: Junior College curriculum, with a focus on higher Mathematics, calculus, integration, differentiation, and allied fields; Physics - particle physics, thermodynamics, electrical and electronic systems, Chemistry - molecular structures and complex reactions, reactivity. Two high-school senior-level classes as part of fulfillment of requirements for entrance into Engineering Courses.
Degree Attained: Higher Secondary Certificate, Maharashtra State HSC Board.

Summer 1984 - Summer 1994

St. Vincents High School, Pune, India.

Course of Study: General high school curriculum, with a focus on mathematics, science, and social science.
Degree Attained:  Secondary School Certificate, Maharashtra State SSC Board.

Academic Qualifications

 

Exam	Percentage	Grade	Institute
Final Year Computer Engineering	N. A.	N. A.	PICT, University of Pune
Third Year Computer Engineering	64 %	First Class	PICT, University of Pune
Second Year Computer Engineering	62 %	First Class	PICT, University of Pune
First Year Computer Engineering	65 %	First Class	PICT, University of Pune
Higher Secondary School Certificate	85.33 %	Distinction	St. Vincents Junior College, Pune
Secondary School Certificate	89 %	Distinction ( 28th in Merit )	St. Vincents High School, Pune

Sports

Interested in hockey, represented my High School, Junior College, Senior College (Under Graduation) and the local Vincentians Old Boys Association (V.O.B.A) hockey club.

 

Member of the victorious St. Vincents High School Senior Hockey team in 1994-1995, winning the Invitational Hockey tournament, member of the 1995-96 ruuners-up team in the Zilla Parishad Hockey Tournament. Member of the runners-up Pune Institute of Computer Technology team in the Inter-Engineering Colleges of Pune Hockey Tournament 1998-99, and the Inter-Engineering Colleges of Pune Hockey Tournament, 1997-98.

 

Also interested in cricket, basketball, and weight training.

Extra Curricular Activities

Member of the Indian National Cadet Core (N.C.C.) - Army wing, reached the rank of Lance Corporal in the 3^rd Maharashtra Armoured Squadron, 1992.

 

Cleared the Indian National Defence Academy's (N.D.A.) entrance test (September 1995), qualifying for the Services Selection Board (S.S.B.) medical entrance test for entrance to the Indian Air Force, but could not attend due to compulsive reasons.

 

Participated in the Combined Annual Training Camp (C.T.C.), Artillery, Armoured Regiment and the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre (MIRC), Indian Army, Ahmednagar (India), November 1992.

Awards and Achievements

Secured a score of 98% in the National Centre for Software Technology, Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Government of India's Competence in Software Technology (CST) test in January 1999, standing in the top 2% from amongst approx. 6500 candidates.

 

Won innumerable awards for excellence in drawing, painting and craft work (spread over 1988-1994), also won many merit awards in school and college for outstanding performance in studies (1984-1994). Also won the UNICEF peace poster consolation prize.

 

Won the Hector Rodrigues Memorial Scholarship in the year 1995 for the most deserving student of both St. Vincents High School and St. Vincents Junior College combined, from amongst 2300 students.

Hobbies

I listen to music, and play and watch hockey, cricket and basketball. I read technical literature and cartoon strips, especially Calvin and Hobbes and Garfield. Also interested in arms literature and technology, and space systems. I also practised weight training for some time.