MSDN Documentation Windows Drivers

General Information for Windows Drivers

This section provides foundational information and conceptual overviews essential for developing drivers for the Windows operating system. Understanding these principles is crucial before diving into specific driver models or technologies.

Introduction to Windows Drivers

Windows drivers are software components that enable the operating system to communicate with hardware devices. They act as translators, allowing the kernel and user-mode applications to interact with the underlying hardware without needing to know the intricate details of each device.

Driver Architecture

Windows drivers are typically structured as layered components. Key architectural concepts include:

  • Kernel Mode vs. User Mode: Drivers can operate in privileged kernel mode or less privileged user mode, each with distinct advantages and implications for security and performance.
  • Driver Models: Windows supports several driver models, such as the Windows Driver Model (WDM), Windows Driver Foundation (WDF) - comprising Kernel-Mode Driver Framework (KMDF) and User-Mode Driver Framework (UMDF). Choosing the right model is critical for development efficiency and maintainability.
  • I/O Manager: The core component responsible for managing I/O operations, dispatching I/O requests to drivers, and handling interrupt service routines.

Key Concepts

Familiarize yourself with these fundamental concepts:

Getting Started

Before you start writing code, ensure you have the necessary development environment set up. This typically includes:

  • Windows Driver Kit (WDK): Provides headers, libraries, and tools for developing Windows drivers.
  • Visual Studio: The integrated development environment (IDE) used for building and debugging driver code.
  • Debugging Tools for Windows: Essential for debugging drivers, both locally and remotely.

For a typical setup, refer to the Setting Up a Driver Development Environment guide.

Example Snippet: A Simple Driver Entry Point

Here's a conceptual look at how a driver might start:


#include <ntddk.h>

// DriverEntry is the first routine called when the driver is loaded.
NTSTATUS DriverEntry(
    _In_ PDRIVER_OBJECT  DriverObject,
    _In_ PUNICODE_STRING RegistryPath
)
{
    // Initialization logic...
    DbgPrint("MyDriver: DriverEntry called.\n");

    // Setup dispatch routines, create device objects, etc.

    return STATUS_SUCCESS;
}

Next Steps

Once you have a grasp of the general concepts, you can explore more specific areas: