Porting a Driver from WDM to KMDF

Kernel-mode driver framework (KMDF) is a library that you can use to develop kernel-mode drivers. The framework is layered on top of the Windows Driver Model (WDM) and implements code to handle many common driver requirements. Basically, the framework is a skeletal device driver that can be customized for specific devices.

Architecturally, framework-based drivers are similar to WDM drivers. A WDM driver consists of a DriverEntry function, various dispatch routines that the operating system calls to service I/O requests, and additional driver-specific utility functions. A framework-based driver consists of a DriverEntry function, various event callback functions that the framework calls to service I/O requests, and additional driver-specific utility functions. However, within this broad structure, the two models have important differences, which are discussed later.

In this section

• Which Drivers Can Be Ported
• WDM Concepts for KMDF Drivers
• Differences Between WDM and KMDF
• Preparing for Porting
• Steps in Porting
• Summary of KMDF and WDM Equivalents

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Build date: 4/23/2013