The NDIS 6.0 filter driver model supersedes the current NDIS filter intermediate driver model. The new filter driver model enhances system performance in several ways:

• Unlike NDIS filter intermediate drivers, an NDIS 6.0 filter driver is not implemented as a combination miniport driver and protocol driver. It has a unique interface that is similar to miniport and protocol drivers but is optimized for filtering information that is passed on a driver stack.
• NDIS 6.0 filter drivers support bypass capabilities so that the driver does not process data when such processing is not required.
• NDIS 6.0 filter drivers can be dynamically inserted into or removed from a driver stack during run time without tearing down bindings. Before such a dynamic operation occurs, NDIS 6.0 pauses all the NDIS drivers in the stack. NDIS restarts the stack when the reconfiguration is complete.

For more information about NDIS 6.0 filter drivers, see NDIS 6.0 Filter Drivers.