| Enabling desktop technologies on Windows XP Embedded SP2 Feature Pack 2007 |
by Cuong Pham (Oct. 23, 2006)
Foreword: This whitepaper, fourth in our series leading up to the Nov. 1 official launch of Windows XP Embedded SP2 Feature Pack 2007, describes a new set of components that bring desktop capabilities to Windows XP Embedded. This allows applications to work identically in both desktop and embedded environments and makes the same management, monitoring, and deployment infrastructure available to manage embedded systems.
Enabling Desktop Technologies on Windows XP Embedded SP2 Feature Pack 2007
by Cuong Pham
Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 Feature Pack 2007 introduces a host of new components and macro components that enable desktop technologies on Windows XPe. In this article, we'll highlight a few including: - .NET Framework 2.0 component
- Microsoft SQL Express 2005 Macro component
- Systems Management Server 2003 SP1 Advanced Client for Windows XP Embedded
- Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 SP1 Agent Prerequisite Component for Windows XP Embedded
- Windows Update Agent component
There are two types of components -- component and macro component. A component includes file and registry resources while a macro component does not; a macro component instead includes dependencies, which are pointers to dependent components Target Designer will automatically add to the configuration on a dependency check.
The table below describes the above-listed components and macro components in detail:
| | Component | Macro
Component | Description |
|---|
| .NET Framework 2.0 | X | | Includes file and registry resources that enable applications targeting the .NET Framework 2.0 to run on Windows XPe | | Microsoft SQL Express 2005 Macro | | X | Includes dependencies that enable installation of SQL Server Express 2005 on Windows XPe | | Systems Management Server 2003 SP1 Advanced Client for Windows XP Embedded | X | X | Contains the SMS 2003 SP1 AC component and the SMS 2003 SP1 AC Prerequisites macro component; the SMS 2003 SP1 AC component includes file and registry resources that make up the SMS 2003 SP1 AC and the Inventory Tools for Microsoft Updates on Windows XPe while the SMS 2003 SP1 AC Prerequisites macro component includes dependencies that enable installation of the SMS 2003 SP1 AC and the ITMU on Windows XPe | | Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 SP1 Agent Prerequisite Component for Windows XP Embedded | | X | Includes dependencies that enable installation of the MOM 2005 SP1 Agent on Windows XPe | | Windows Update Agent | X | | Includes file and registry resources that provide access to Windows Update Services servers and enable functionality and UI for Automatic Updates and applications calling the WUA API on Windows XPe |
Enabling desktop technologies on Windows XPe adds tremendous flexibility and value to the platform. The aforementioned technologies not only enable the applications on your desktop systems to just work on your Windows XPe systems, but also enable you to manage all your desktop systems as well your Windows XPe systems using the same management/monitoring/deployment infrastructure with virtually no additional integration effort. We discuss each technology in detail in the following sections and provide a link for additional information.
- .NET Framework 2.0 -- The .NET Framework 2.0 extends the .NET Framework 1.1 with several new features and enhancements, many of which could greatly benefit your Windows XPe systems. For example, there is now ready support for Console Class Additions, Distributed Computing, FTP [Support], Serial I/O Device Support, etc. So not only do the applications targeting the .NET Framework 2.0 on your desktop systems work on your Windows XPe systems, but applications can also leverage the .NET Framework 2.0 new features and enhancements to add value to those systems. Further information is available here.
- SQL [Server] Express 2005 -- SQL [Server] Express 2005 is a free product based on SQL Server 2005 technology. SQL Server Express 2005 replaces Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE).. SQL Server Express offers unique features not available on MSDE such as Application XCopy, Robust Setup UI, CLR support and GUI tools. Additionally, SQL Server Express 2005 deeply integrates with Visual Studio 2005. Now, while you migrate your applications from using older technology such as MSDE to using SQL Server Express 2005 to take advantage of its new features, you can be confident your desktop systems applications will "just work" on your Windows XPe systems. Furthermore, your Windows XPe systems are SQL Server Express 2005 ready for future applications using this new technology. Further information is available here.
- Systems Management Server 2003 SP1 Advanced Client for Windows XP Embedded -- The SMS 2003 SP1 AC enables you to manage your Windows XPe systems using SMS 2003 while the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates (ITMU) creates an inventory of applicable and installed security updates, update rollups and service packs for each of your Windows XPe systems. Being able to use SMS 2003 to manage your Windows XPe systems has many benefits. You can leverage the same SMS 2003 infrastructure to manage your desktop systems as well as your Windows XPe systems, and do so with virtually no additional integration effort. Then, you can have high confidence all your desktop systems and Windows XPe systems are running with the latest security updates, update rollups, service packs, etc. Further information is available here.
- Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 SP1 Agent Prerequisite Component -- The MOM 2005 SP1 Agent enables you to monitor your Windows XPe systems using MOM 2005. Leveraging the same MOM 2005 infrastructure, you can monitor your desktop systems as well as your Windows XPe systems, similar to SMS, with virtually no additional integration effort. Further information is available here.
- Windows Update Agent -- The WUA enables you to deploy the latest Microsoft updates to your Windows XPe systems using Windows Server Update Services. Leverage the same WSUS infrastructure, you can deploy Microsoft updates to all your desktop systems and Windows XPe systems, again with virtually no additional integration effort. Further information is available here.
Windows XPe SP2 FP2007, by introducing a collection of new components and macro components, now enables desktop technologies on the embedded platform. The added flexibility and value is tremendous; applications will work on all desktop and Windows XPe systems, and the same management/monitoring/deployment infrastructure can be used to manage these systems.
Further details
You can find more information about Windows XPe at its homepage on MSDN. You can also download a Community Technology Preview version of FP 2007 from the Microsoft Connect Site -- sign up for the CTP using this Invitation ID: 123-BC7M-6GVK.
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved. Reproduced by WindowsForDevices.com with permission.
 About the author: Cuong Pham recently joined the Microsoft's Windows Embedded team as a Program Manager. Prior to Microsoft, Cuong held positions in development, testing, and management in various aerospace and telecommunications companies. Originally from Houston, Cuong has called Chicago, San Diego, and now Seattle home.
Read the Complete XPe SP2 FP2007 Whitepaper Series
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