Storage Hardware Considerations (Windows CE 5.0)

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For information about how software utilizes RAM, ROM, and mass storage, see RAM, ROM, and Mass Storage Comparison. For information about developing device drivers for a specific type of device, see Windows CE Drivers.

IDE/ATAPI/SATA

You can optionally include an internal hard disk drive with direct memory access (DMA) capability or a CD/DVD R/W drive with DMA capability. Use this storage for booting the run-time image and storing device data files, or any other purpose you see fit.

If the hard disk drive is the storage media for the run-time image, then the boot loader must be able to download another copy of the run-time image to the hard disk drive through another data transfer mechanism such as a network or a USB key drive to ensure recover from possible storage corruption. Use this same mechanism to update the run-time image. The networked media device (NMD) development software provides boot loader sample code you can use as a starting point for your specific implementation.

Internal flash

Supporting internal flash storage is optional. Internal flash storage can store the run-time image, data files for the device, or both.

If the internal flash is the storage media for the run-time image, then the boot loader must be able to download another copy of the run-time image to the hard disk drive through another data transfer mechanism such as a network or a USB key drive to ensure recovery from possible storage corruption. Use this same mechanism to update the run-time image. The NMD software provides boot loader sample code you can use as a starting point for your specific implementation.

Examples of internal flash storage are the following:

  • Disk on module (DOM)
  • Disk on chip (DOC)
  • NAND flash array
  • NOR flash array

See Also

Hardware Architecture Diagram for Networked Media Devices | Core OS Services | Developing a Board Support Package | Developing a Device Driver | Developing an OEM Adaptation Layer | CETK Tests

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