A device driver is a specific type of computer software developed to allow interaction with hardware devices. Typically, this constitutes an interface for communicating with the device through the specific computer bus or communications subsystem that the hardware is connected to.
Device drivers provide commands to and/or receiving data from the device and on the other end, the requisite interfaces to the operating system and software applications.
You cannot have a CD-ROM drive, for example, without a device driver for that specific piece of equipment. You have drivers for a printer, scanner, and even your mouse.
It is a specialized hardware-dependent program which is also operating system specific that enables another program – typically an operating system or applications software package or computer program running under the operating system kernel.
This allows the system to interact transparently with the hardware device and usually provides the requisite interrupt handling necessary for any time-dependent hardware interfacing needs.
The key design goal of device drivers is abstraction. Every model of hardware is different. Newer models also are released by manufacturers that provide more reliable or better performance and these newer models are often controlled differently.
Computers and their operating systems cannot be expected to know how to control every device both now and in the future. To solve this problem, operating systems essentially dictate how every type of device should be controlled. The function of the device driver is then to translate these OS mandated function calls into device specific calls.
In theory, a new device which is controlled in a new manner should function correctly is a suitable driver is available. This new driver will insure that the device appears to operate as usual from the operating system’s point of view for any person.
Some operating systems come with pre-installed drivers or a variety of common drivers to choose from. When you buy a new piece of hardware such as a joy stick, they will often come with a disk that contains the device driver that you can install. Other drivers or updated drivers are available online at the manufacturer’s website.
Device drivers provide commands to and/or receiving data from the device and on the other end, the requisite interfaces to the operating system and software applications.
You cannot have a CD-ROM drive, for example, without a device driver for that specific piece of equipment. You have drivers for a printer, scanner, and even your mouse.
It is a specialized hardware-dependent program which is also operating system specific that enables another program – typically an operating system or applications software package or computer program running under the operating system kernel.
This allows the system to interact transparently with the hardware device and usually provides the requisite interrupt handling necessary for any time-dependent hardware interfacing needs.
The key design goal of device drivers is abstraction. Every model of hardware is different. Newer models also are released by manufacturers that provide more reliable or better performance and these newer models are often controlled differently.
Computers and their operating systems cannot be expected to know how to control every device both now and in the future. To solve this problem, operating systems essentially dictate how every type of device should be controlled. The function of the device driver is then to translate these OS mandated function calls into device specific calls.
In theory, a new device which is controlled in a new manner should function correctly is a suitable driver is available. This new driver will insure that the device appears to operate as usual from the operating system’s point of view for any person.
Some operating systems come with pre-installed drivers or a variety of common drivers to choose from. When you buy a new piece of hardware such as a joy stick, they will often come with a disk that contains the device driver that you can install. Other drivers or updated drivers are available online at the manufacturer’s website.
0 comments:
Post a Comment