Kernel driver compatibility between windows 2000/2003/XP

[Ashish Sharma]

Hi,

I have made USB keyboard kernel driver. I am able to compile the driver code
with Windows 2000 DDK , Windows XP DDK & Windows 2003 DDK.
And this driver runs properly on Windows 2000, Windows XP & Windows 2003.

My question is:
A) When this driver is shipped to the customers, do I have to rebuild the
driver for each OS?
B) Is Windows 2000 WDM functionality subset of Windows XP/2003 WDM
functionality?
C) Can I assume that if the driver is compiled on Windows 2000 and runs
properly on that OS, then it will run on Windows XP & Windows 2003 also?

Thanks
Ashish Sharma

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

a) Not rebuild, but your install program should detect the correct OS being
installed on and install the correct driver for that OS. In other words,
your installation package should contain a compiled driver for each, Win2k,
WinXP and Win2k3, although personally, I wouldn't worry about Win2k as it is
at its end of life cycle. Also, on WinXP/2k3, you need to consider both
the 32-bit and 64-bit versions, as 32-bit versions of OS's are on the way
out, where 64-bit versions are on the way in. More and more systems are
shipped with a 64-bit version of WinXP/2k3, than 32-bit, and rumor has it
the former Longhorn, now Vista will ship 64-bit only in 2006.
b) No, as I said, I wouldn't worry with the old Win2k functionality.
c) No, especially if its the 64-bit version, as there is no 64-bit version
of Win2k. I suggest you compile the driver for all 4 versions, WinXP/Win2k3
32-bit and 64-bit to be included in your installation package, and have your
install program detect the correct OS and install the appropriate driver,
but you'll need a 64-bit machine with a 64-bit OS to do the 64-bit versions.

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