Filter Driver Development Kit (FDDK)

Even with the resources available in the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) developing file systems is certainly a challenge. Many projects, however, can be accomplished by implementing a file system filter driver rather than a full file system. Because Windows provides the facilities needed to layer one driver on top of another, a filter driver can be built so that it intercepts and processes requests both before and after the file system handles them. Of course, some projects may require development of a completely new file system (See the OSR FSDK), or require transformations such as encryption and compression (See the OSR DMK).

To simplify your development and to provide you with a robust and well-tested file system filter driver that works with all versions and patch releases of the Windows NT "family" of operating systems supported by Microsoft, OSR offers the file system Filter Driver Development Kit (FDDK) which provides a complete, modular environment for building active file system filters.

This product is best suited for development teams that need to get their product to market quickly and with a minimal number of bugs. Why? Because the FDDK has been shipping to OSR customers since 1996. It is included in dozens og commercial applications, on a variety of platforms, and under a variety of conditions. Because of this, you can be assured that the FDDK will provide a high quality base for your project. Plus, you have the peace of mind of knowing that the OSR technical team will be there to answer your questions and resolve any problems that arise in the future.

    Product Features

  • Support for dynamic file system recognition. Windows does not load file systems at boot time. Rather, they are loaded during the normal course of system execution. The FDDK includes a "recognizer" component which handles these dynamic file system load events.
  • Support for removable media. Windows creates "device objects" for each file system instance. When media is changed in a drive supporting such operations, the old "device object" is deleted and a new "device object" is created for the new media. The filtering component of the FDDK includes support for such media change events.
  • Support for fast I/O, including the fast I/O entry points. Windows allows file systems to support "fast I/O" entry points. The FDDK includes full support for all entries in the fast I/O entry table to ensure proper compatibility with other Windows kernel components (such as the LanManager server, SRV) which rely upon this behavior.
  • Support for Paging I/O. Since Windows file systems must support paging I/O, the FDDK passes all I/O, including paging I/O, to the functionality driver. The functionality driver is responsible for handling paging I/O.
  • Support for user-written Functionality Drivers. As supplied, the FDDK will call a separate user-written Functionality Driver whenever an I/O Request Packet of the desired type is passed to a file system that is being filtered. Several example Functionality Drivers are supplied with the FDDK to help get you started.
  • The FDDK only requires the compiler and libraries in the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). No additional development kit (e.g., IFS Kit) of any kind is needed from Microsoft.
  • Support is provided for both x86 and x64 platforms.

Quality Assurance and Support

Your investment in the FDDK is sure to be a valuable one. In addition to OSR's own internal testing, the FDDK is actively in use in numerous commercial products. Thus, you have the benefit of basing your project on a solid base. Further, you are protected against both bugs and obsolescence in the FDDK with one full year of support by OSR's world-class technical staff.

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Product Overview

  • This package provides the essential components needed to develop Windows file system filter drivers, allowing your team to focus on adding value to your product rather than on the filter driver design and development process. The FDDK includes everything required to develop a file system filter driver using the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). Support is provided for versions of Windows that in Mainstream support with Microsoft (or by contract, those under Extended support)
  • Fully documented, product-quality source code for the file system filter driver and file system recognizer driver (more than 7,500 lines of code) is included. You are free to use this code as is, or modify it to fit your particular requirements.
  • The FDDK contains detailed documentation describing how the file system filter driver works and how to build it under Windows.
  • Purchase also includes up to two (2) seats in one of our regularly scheduled File Systems Development seminars.
  • Enjoy a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to distribute binary images including the FDDK as part of your product.
  • One full year of product support (including upgrades) from OSR's technical staff is part of your purchase. Of course, additional support terms beyond the first year are also available.