Storage Technologies
The storage architecture in Windows provides a wide array of device options in both the consumer and server editions. As new storage technologies emerge, Windows offers an adaptable driver model for hardware suppliers to create drivers for their devices.
Storage Devices for WindowsSome of the storage hardware available for Windows is listed here.
| Storage in WindowsCommon storage attachment technologies currently supported in Windows. SCSI IDE ATA SATA Fibre Channel MPIO USB iSCSI
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New for Storage in Windows 8Whitepapers highlighting new features for storage in Windows 8.
Storage related sessions from the //build/ conference. |
Storage Driver Development
Storage drivers include class, port, miniport, and filter drivers. Typically, a device vendor will implement a miniport driver for a specific adapter or adapter type. Although not common, a new storage class can be defined and a new class driver developed for it. Storage classes in Windows include the Disk, CDROM, USB storage, and encd drypterive classes. Storage driver development is usually limited to writing a miniport driver to work with the StorPort port driver.
Other types of storage drivers are secure silo drivers and Device Specific Modules (DSM) for multipath I/O. For storage management, WMI providers are developed as a control interface to a driver.
Storage Driver WDK ResourcesGetting started information, design guides, and reference topics are found in the Storage Devices technology section of the Window Driver Kit (WDK) documentation. Studying samples is a practical way to see how working storage drivers are developed. Sample minport drivers, class drivers, filters, and tools are available in the MSDN Code Gallery. | Driver Verification for StorPortUsing code analysis tools during driver development and testing helps to catch performance problems and defects in a storage driver. The Static Driver Verifier (SDV) tool is available to discover defects in storage driver code. Included with SDV are compliance rules for verifying proper usage of StorPort routines by miniport drivers. |
Storage Device CertificationTests for storage hardware certification are found in the Windows Hardware Certification Kit (HCK). Test for storage devices are found in the Devices.Storage category of the HCK. |
In addition to the WDK documentation, many other resources are available to assist in developing Windows storage drivers. Whitepapers, conference sessions, and standards specifications provide in-depth information on specific storage device and attachment technologies.
Storage Miniports | USB Storage |
Solid State Disk Drives | Optical Devices |
Additional Storage White Papers
| Storage Industry Resources |
Conference Presentations
See Also | Storage Developer Resources |
