Tip 53

Components Of The I/O System…

The Windows NT I/O system consists of several executive components as well as device drivers. The I/O manager connects applications and system components to virtual, logical, and physical devices, and defines the infrastructure that supports device drivers. A device driver typically provides an I/O interface for a particular type of device. Device drivers receive commands routed to them by the I/O manager that are directed at devices they manage, and they inform the I/O manager when those commands complete. Device drivers often use the I/O manager to forward I/O commands to other device drivers that share in the implementation of a device’s interface or control.