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DEVICE DRIVERS
What is a device driver?
Encapsulation
Hides low level device protocol from the client.
Unification
Makes similar devices look the same
Protection
Only authorized applications can use the device
Multiplexing
Multiple applications can use the device concurrently
Classifications
1. BIOS
basic input/output system
the most basic computer driver in existence
first program that boots when a PC turns on.
The BIOS is stored on memory built into the motherboard and is
designed to boot the hardware connected to the PC, including the
hard drives, video display output keyboard and mouse.
2. Motherboard Drivers
Small programs that are read by either Windows or Linux and allow
for basic computer functions while inside the operating system.
These drivers normally include programs that allow broadband
ports, USB ports and I/O ports for the mouse and keyboard.
Depending on the make of the motherboard, the drivers may also
have basic drivers for video and audio support.
3. Hardware Drivers
programs that are designed to allow pieces of computer hardware,
such as expansion slots, to function on a computer. Video cards,
sound cards, network cards and other expansion cards come with
driver discs to ease the installation process of the hardware. Other
devices, like certain kinds of digital cameras and MP3 players, have
PC drivers programmed into their software for easy use on most
makes of personal computers.
3.Virtual Device Drivers
Virtual device drivers are different than most drivers.
virtual device drivers emulate a piece of hardware and essentially
trick the computer into thinking that it is reading from a piece of
actual hardware.
A particularly popular use for virtual device drivers is with reading
.iso files without having an actual disc, using one of these drivers to
emulate a CD or DVD drive.
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