Framework Availability

  • Thread starter Thread starter Matt Osborne
  • Start date Start date
M

Matt Osborne

When does the .Net framework become available? I have a GINA replacement
written in native C++. We are considering revising our current software so
that it implements .Net. The GINA would be written in C++, however, some
of the other modules it would consume would be written in C#. When does
windows start the framework?

Thanks in advance
 
Thank-you, but what i wanted to know is when durring the boot process is
the runtime availible. If i have managed code in the GINA, is that going
to fail, or is it going to work OK?

Matt Osborne
 
Matt,
Seeing as a GINA requires specific exported functions for the DLL, I do not
really see what you would gain from writing a GINA in C#. You would still
need a C++ stub to act as a proxy from the exported function interface of
the GINA with the C# functions.

I have not done a lot with hosting the CLR, however your C++ stub should be
able to 'host' the CLR to allow you to call the C# functions...

To even determine if what you are asking is possible. I would start by
reading up on what is required to host the CLR.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...de/html/cpconhostingcommonlanguageruntime.asp

Hope this helps
Jay
 
The first start up of the Framework generally appears to be "expensive" (it
takes some time). You really wouldn't want to take that hit in a GINA, as
people will really notice it (I loaded your software and now my machine
boots slowly!). Anything that is inserted in the login / boot process needs
to be extremely efficient and this isn't somewhere where the .Net framework
is going to shine (not on starting quickly anyway; once it is initialized it
can be quite efficient).

I'm not sure what you are using the GINA for, but I understand that GINAs
are "out" in the Longhorn timeframe. I guess they caused too many problems.
I know for those of us in support, we always want to shoot a vendor that
tries to give us a GINA. Many times they don't chain properly (and their
coders ask US to tell them what chaining is!). They tend to BSOD the machine
when you uninstall one from the middle of the chain, etc.

If there is any way to do what you are needing from either a
NetworkProvider, or a WinLogin "Notification" DLL (not as intusive as a
GINA, but gets the notifications and gets a handle to the user token) then I
would advise moving to one of them. You'll still need C / C++ though - these
aren't appropriate places for .Net at this point...

Jerry
 
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