is the wifi driver a kernel mode driver or a user mode driver

[rookie1010]

Hello

I was wondering if the wifi driver is a user mode driver or a kernel mode driver?

 

[corkyg]

According to Microsoft's definition, etc., it is a user mode driver.

WiFi

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: corkyg
According to Microsoft's definition, etc., it is a user mode driver.

WiFi

No, that's talking about printer drivers (only).

Drivers are generally kernel drivers, with the rare (printer drivers) exception.

 

[rookie1010]

thanks for the replies

Drivers are generally kernel drivers, with the rare (printer drivers) exception.

isnt that windows 95 drivers (.vxd for all drivers except .drv for printers since they were not using ring 0 protected mode, or am i getting mixed up.), have windows continued with the same architecture for drivers?

in the link the user mode derivers are described as version 3 and kernel mode drivers are described as version 2
does the version 3 mean ring 3
and version 2 means ring 2

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: corkyg
According to Microsoft's definition, etc., it is a user mode driver.

WiFi

No, that's talking about printer drivers (only).

Drivers are generally kernel drivers, with the rare (printer drivers) exception.

Of course, this all changes in Vista.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: rookie1010
thanks for the replies

Drivers are generally kernel drivers, with the rare (printer drivers) exception.

isnt that windows 95 drivers (.vxd for all drivers except .drv for printers since they were not using ring 0 protected mode, or am i getting mixed up.), have windows continued with the same architecture for drivers?

in the link the user mode derivers are described as version 3 and kernel mode drivers are described as version 2
does the version 3 mean ring 3
and version 2 means ring 2

Note the link is only talking about printers.

 

[spikespiegal]

Drivers are generally kernel drivers, with the rare (printer drivers) exception.

Then please expalin why I can BSOD a Windows Server running Terminal Services with PCL 5 drivers?

If Spooler.Exe runs in user mode, that's news to me.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: spikespiegal

Drivers are generally kernel drivers, with the rare (printer drivers) exception.

Then please expalin why I can BSOD a Windows Server running Terminal Services with PCL 5 drivers?

If Spooler.Exe runs in user mode, that's news to me.

Check the web page. If they're NT4-compatible drivers (type 2) they run in kernel mode. Win2000 introduced type 3, which run in user mode.

 

[spikespiegal]

Actually Windows 2003 allows you the option of restricting printer drivers to user mode only, which still doesn't amount to much depending on the printer you have.

I've been in companies recently with $75,000 worth of legacy laser printers that don't have type 3 versions, or the type 3 sucks and has too many problems. You plan on upgrading a $5,000 workgroup laser to a Canon ink-jet or something?

 

[dclive]

Then go after the printer manufacturer for not updating their drivers! If Canon can do it for a $25 printer, why can't a vendor with a $5000 product? It's now literally 6 years after Win2000's release -- what's their excuse?

 

[Nothinman]

Yea, one would think that some part of that $5K went for support which should include the device's software and drivers.

 

[rookie1010]

thanks for the replpies

hey if type 3 are user mode and type 2 are kernel mode, what is a type 1 driver?