Windows 8 kernel vs Server 2012

NTDEV
1

Hi everyone,

This question is just out of curiosity rather than having a specific problem:

Typically, what differences are there between the kernels of server versions of windows and their contemporary non-server versions? For example, is the Windows 8 kernel the same as the Server 2012 kernel? If not, is there any reading material available discussing differences between the two? Perhaps this is something discussed in Windows Internals but my copy only covers up to Windows 7.

Thanks in advance for any input.

2

At least in some versions, there were no difference at all.

The difference was only in some system-defined registry values like priority quantum matrix etc.

Even now you can safely assume that yout kmode code working on Win8 will work on 2012 and vice versa, as also:

Win7 == 2008 R2
Vista SP1 == 2008 (and their SP2 versions are the same)
Vista Gold is unique and is does not correspond to any server
XP64 == 2003
XP32 is unique and is does not correspond to any server
all w2k SKUs are the same

This is only about interfaces to your drivers, not about innerworkings which can be different.

Also, digital signature requirements for installation can differ a bit.

–
Maxim S. Shatskih
Microsoft MVP on File System And Storage
xxxxx@storagecraft.com
http://www.storagecraft.com

wrote in message news:xxxxx@ntdev…
> Hi everyone,
>
> This question is just out of curiosity rather than having a specific problem:
>
> Typically, what differences are there between the kernels of server versions of windows and their contemporary non-server versions? For example, is the Windows 8 kernel the same as the Server 2012 kernel? If not, is there any reading material available discussing differences between the two? Perhaps this is something discussed in Windows Internals but my copy only covers up to Windows 7.
>
> Thanks in advance for any input.
>

3

Thanks for the quick answer, that’s great.