WMI System Classes

The WMI system classes are a collection of predefined classes based on the Common Information Model (CIM). Unlike classes supplied by providers, the system classes are not declared in a Managed Object Format (MOF) file. WMI creates a set of these classes whenever a new WMI namespace is created.

Objects from the system classes are used to support WMI activities, such as: event and provider registration, security, and event notification. Some objects are temporary, and some are stored in the repository as instances of the system classes.

System classes follow a naming convention that consists of a double-underscore (__) followed by the class name. When you write an MOF file to define classes for a WMI provider, Mofcomp.exe does not compile any class with an initial double-underscore (__) because that is reserved for WMI system class names.

The documentation for the system classes includes only the nonsystem local properties. Links are provided in class definitions so that you can navigate the class hierarchy quickly and easily.

WMI System Classes

The following table lists the various system classes.

System classDescription
__AbsoluteTimerInstruction Causes an event to be generated on a specific date at a specific time.
__ACERepresents an access control entry (ACE).
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows NT Server:  This class is not available.
__ADAPStatusObsolete. The AutoDiscovery/AutoPurge (ADAP) process is replaced by the WmiPerfClass provider.
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000:  The current state of the ADAP process.
__AggregateEventRepresents an aggregate event of several individual intrinsic or extrinsic events.
__ArbitratorConfigurationConfiguration class that limits the internal resources that are used by operations initiated by WMI clients.
Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows Me/98/95:  This class is not available.
__CacheControlDetermines when WMI should release a Component Object Model (COM) object.
__CIMOMIdentificationDescribes the local installation of WMI.
__ClassCreationEventRepresents a class creation event, which is a type of intrinsic event generated when a new class is added to the namespace.
__ClassDeletionEventRepresents a class deletion event, which is a type of intrinsic event generated when a class is removed from the namespace.
__ClassModificationEventRepresents a class modification event, which is a type of intrinsic event generated when a class is changed in the namespace.
__ClassOperationEventA base class for all intrinsic events that relate to a class.
__ClassProviderRegistrationRegisters class providers in WMI.
__ConsumerFailureEventRepresents the occurrence of some other event that is being dropped because of the failure of an event consumer.
__EventAn abstract base class that serves as the parent class for all intrinsic and extrinsic events.
__EventConsumerAn abstract base class that is used in the registration of a permanent event consumer.
__EventConsumerProviderCacheControl Determines when WMI should release an event consumer provider.
__EventConsumerProviderRegistrationRegisters event consumer providers with WMI.
__EventDroppedEventRepresents the occurrence of an event that is dropped. A dropped event is an event that is not delivered to an event consumer.
__EventFilterRegistration of a permanent event consumer requires an instance of the __EventFilter system class.
__EventGeneratorServes as a parent class for classes that control the generation of events, such as timer events.
__EventProviderCacheControlControls when an event provider is unloaded.
__EventProviderRegistrationRegisters event providers with WMI.
__EventQueueOverflowEventReports when an event is dropped as a result of delivery queue overflow.
__EventSinkCacheControlUsed to determine when WMI releases an event consumer provider's IWbemUnboundObjectSink pointer.
__ExtendedStatusUsed to report detailed status and error information.
__ExtrinsicEventServes as a parent class for all user-defined event types, also known as extrinsic events.
__FilterToConsumerBindingUsed in the registration of permanent event consumers to relate an instance of the of __EventConsumer to an instance of __EventFilter.
__IndicationRelatedServes as a parent class for all event-related classes.
__InstanceCreationEventReports an instance creation event, which is a type of intrinsic event that is generated when a new instance is added to the namespace.
__InstanceDeletionEventReports an instance deletion event, which is a type of intrinsic event generated when an instance is deleted from the namespace.
__InstanceModificationEventReports an instance modification event, which is a type of intrinsic event generated when an instance changes in the namespace.
__InstanceOperationEventServes as a base class for all intrinsic events that relate to an instance.
__InstanceProviderRegistrationRegisters instance providers in WMI.
__IntervalTimerInstructionGenerates events at intervals, similar to a WM_TIMER message in Windows programming.
__MethodInvocationEventThis class is not implemented.
__MethodProviderRegistrationRegisters method providers with WMI.
__NamespaceRepresents a WMI namespace.
__NamespaceCreationEventReports a namespace creation event, which is a type of intrinsic event generated when a new namespace is added to the current namespace.
__NamespaceDeletionEventReports a namespace deletion event, which is a type of intrinsic event that is generated when a sub-namespace is removed from the current namespace.
__NamespaceModificationEventReports a namespace modification event, which is a type of intrinsic event that is generated when a namespace is modified.
__NamespaceOperationEventA base class for all intrinsic events that relate to a namespace.
__NotifyStatusServes as the parent class for provider-defined error classes.
__NTLMUser9XControls remote access to a Windows Me, Windows 98, or Windows 95 computer.
__ObjectProviderCacheControlControls when a class or instance provider is unloaded.
__ObjectProviderRegistrationServes as the parent for classes that are used to register class and instance providers in WMI.
__PARAMETERSDefines the input and output parameters for methods.
__PropertyProviderCacheControlControls the cache when a property provider is unloaded.
__PropertyProviderRegistrationRegisters property providers in WMI.
__ProviderServes as the parent class for the __Win32Provider system class.
__ProviderHostQuotaConfigurationAllows limits to be set on host process usage of system resources.
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows Me/98/95:  This class is not available.
__ProviderRegistrationServes as the parent class for registration classes for various types of providers.
__SecurityDescriptorRepresents a security descriptor.
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows Me/98/95:  This class is not available.
__SecurityRelatedClassServes as a parent class for all types of security classes.
__SystemClassBase class from which most system classes derive.
__SystemEventRepresents a system event.
__SystemSecurityContains methods that let you access and modify the security settings for a namespace.
__thisNAMESPACEHolds the security rights for the namespace in the form of a security descriptor.
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows Me/98/95:  This class is not available.
__TimerEventReports an event generated by WMI in response to a consumer's request for an interval timer event or an absolute timer event.
__TimerInstructionSpecifies instructions on how timer events should be generated for consumers.
__TimerNextFiringReserved for operating system use.
__TrusteeRepresents a trustee. Either a name or a SID (byte array) can be used.
Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows Me/98/95:  This class is not available.
__Win32ProviderRegisters information about a provider's physical implementation in WMI.

 

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Build date: 11/3/2009

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