7.2. Windows Management Instrumentation

As stated earlier, CIM is the DMTF-defined and SNIA-adopted Common Information Model. WMI is the Microsoft implementation of CIM. In other words, WMI is “CIM for Windows.”

WMI has been implemented in both kernel mode and user mode. Windows NT 4.0 SP6 shipped with only the user mode WMI. Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 have WMI implemented in both kernel mode and user mode.

WMI has a three-tiered architecture as shown in Figure 7.1. The three layers are

  1. WMI application layer

  2. WMI service provider layer

  3. WMI provider layer

Figure 7.1. WMI Architecture

At the top is the WMI application layer. ...

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