WAN Wide area network. A communications network that connects geographically separated areas. Compare with LAN.
warm docking A method of removing or installing a mobile system in a docking station by which the computer can be docked or undocked while in a reduced power state, such as suspend.
WBEM Web-based Enterprise Management. Technology based on standards being developed by DMTF and IETF. WBEM will provide a mechanism to specify information exchange between management applications and managed components.
WDL Windows Driver Library. See WHQL.
WDM Win32 Driver Model. A 32-bit driver model based on the Windows NT driver model that is designed to provide a common architecture of I/O services for both Windows and Windows NT for specific classes of drivers. These driver classes include USB and IEEE 1394 buses, audio, still-image capture, video capture, and HID-compliant devices such as USB mice, keyboards, and joysticks. Provides a model for writing kernel-mode drivers and minidrivers, and provides extensions for Plug and Play and power management.
WHQL Windows Hardware Quality Labs. Provides compatibility testing services to test hardware and drivers for Windows NT and Windows. Administers testing for the “Designed for Microsoft Windows” logo programs. Author of WDL and HCL. For more information, see the web site at http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest/.
Win32 API A 32-bit application programming interface for both Windows and Windows NT that includes operating system capabilities, security, and API routines for Windows-based applications.
Windows Refers to the Microsoft Windows 98 operating system, including any add-on capabilities and any later versions of the operating system.
Windows NT Refers to the Microsoft Windows NT version 5.0 operating system, including any add-on capabilities and any later versions of the operating system, unless specific design issues are defined that relate to version 5.0.
Windows NT DDK Documents the Windows NT driver model (upon which WDM is based) and is an essential component for building WDM drivers. Provided through MSDN Professional membership.
Windows NT driver model The layered device driver model used under the Windows NT operating system. For information, see Inside Windows NT, by Helen Custer (Microsoft Press, 1993; ISBN 1 -55615-481-X ).
WMI Windows Management Instrumentation. Extensions to WDM developed for Windows NT 5.0 and Windows 98 to provide an operating system interface through which instrumented components can provide information and notifications.
workstation In general, a powerful computer with considerable calculating and graphics capabilities.