Developing Windows ® 2000 Certified Applications Richard Clay Program Manager Windows Infrastructure Microsoft Corporation 7-312

Windows 2000 Certification The new Logo program

Benefits Of Certification: Most manageable and reliable applications on Windows 2000 Most manageable and reliable applications on Windows 2000 Your customers can purchase a known entity Your customers can purchase a known entity Certified applications reduce TCO According to Gartner: Certified applications reduce TCO According to Gartner:  Compliant applications reduced desktop TCO by 3 percent  Compliant applications make it easier to adopt ZAW features

Certification/‘Designed For’ What changed in the Logo program? Based on internal and external feedback and reviews Based on internal and external feedback and reviews Specifications focused and testable Specifications focused and testable Certified means it passed testing on the requirements Certified means it passed testing on the requirements Much more rigorous testing Much more rigorous testing Public test results Public test results Very limited exceptions Very limited exceptions

What Does “Ready” mean? Windows 2000 Ready applications: ISV tested compatibility with Windows 2000 ISV tested compatibility with Windows 2000 ISV commits to support on Windows 2000 ISV commits to support on Windows 2000 Approximately 8500 listed at Approximately 8500 listed at No requirement to exploit features No requirement to exploit features No published test results No published test results “Ready” is not on the path to certify “Ready” is not on the path to certify Do not receive a Logo Do not receive a Logo

Specification Requirements came from internal and external input Requirements came from internal and external input Requirements are testable Requirements are testable Specifications are stable Specifications are stable Goal: meaning of existing certifications won’t change Goal: meaning of existing certifications won’t change New certifications will sometimes be introduced with new platforms New certifications will sometimes be introduced with new platforms

Desktop Specification Windows Fundamentals Document any 16-bit code Document any 16-bit code Support long file names, UNC paths, and long printer names Support long file names, UNC paths, and long printer names Do not write to Win.ini, etc Do not write to Win.ini, etc Files have associated file-types Files have associated file-types Check Windows version correctly Check Windows version correctly Hardware drivers must pass WHQL Hardware drivers must pass WHQL

Desktop Specification Windows Fundamentals Document any 16-bit code Document any 16-bit code Support long file names, UNC paths, and long printer names Support long file names, UNC paths, and long printer names Do not write to Win.ini, etc Do not write to Win.ini, etc Files have associated file-types Files have associated file-types Check Windows version correctly Check Windows version correctly Hardware drivers must pass WHQL Hardware drivers must pass WHQL

Desktop Specification Windows Installer Service Use Windows Installer-based package Use Windows Installer-based package Identify shared components Identify shared components Install to Program Files by default Install to Program Files by default Support Add/Remove Programs Support Add/Remove Programs Support advertising Support advertising Ensure correct uninstall Ensure correct uninstall

Desktop Specification Component Sharing Do not violate Windows File Protection Do not violate Windows File Protection Build side-by-side components Build side-by-side components Consume and install side-by-side components Consume and install side-by-side components Install any non side-by-side shared files to the correct locations Install any non side-by-side shared files to the correct locations

Desktop Specification Data and Settings Management My Documents for user-created data My Documents for user-created data Classify and store application data Classify and store application data Degrade gracefully on access denied Degrade gracefully on access denied Run in a secure Windows environment Run in a secure Windows environment System-level Group Policy settings System-level Group Policy settings Register ADM file settings Register ADM file settings

Desktop Specification User Interface Fundamentals Standard system size, color, font, etc. Standard system size, color, font, etc. Ensure compatibility with the High Contrast option Ensure compatibility with the High Contrast option Provide documented keyboard access Provide documented keyboard access Expose keyboard focus Expose keyboard focus No shortcuts to documents, help, or uninstall on the Start Menu No shortcuts to documents, help, or uninstall on the Start Menu Support multiple monitors Support multiple monitors

Desktop Specification OnNow/ACPI Support Indicate busy application status properly Indicate busy application status properly In the non-connected state, allow sleep and resume normally In the non-connected state, allow sleep and resume normally Handle sleep notifications properly Handle sleep notifications properly Handle wake from normal sleep without losing data Handle wake from normal sleep without losing data Handle wake from critical sleep Handle wake from critical sleep

Desktop Specification Application Migration Application must continue to function after upgrade to Windows 2000 Professional without reinstall Application must continue to function after upgrade to Windows 2000 Professional without reinstall

Desktop Specification Best Practices Do not require a reboot Do not require a reboot Use SHGetFolderPath Use SHGetFolderPath Support Terminal Services Support Terminal Services Clients query Active Directory ™ for Services Clients query Active Directory ™ for Services Globalization and Localizability Globalization and Localizability Accessibility Considerations Accessibility Considerations Use 64-bit compatible data types Use 64-bit compatible data types

Server Specification Comparison with Desktop Includes much of the desktop requirements: UI, Fundamentals, Install/Uninstall, etc. Includes much of the desktop requirements: UI, Fundamentals, Install/Uninstall, etc. Does not include MSI, advertising, component sharing, OnNow, multi- mon, data management, etc. Does not include MSI, advertising, component sharing, OnNow, multi- mon, data management, etc.

Server Specification Active Directory Use Active Directory appropriately Use Active Directory appropriately Document the storage and replication Document the storage and replication Document use of objects and attributes from base schema Document use of objects and attributes from base schema Must be “globally interesting” Must be “globally interesting” Must not exceed 1MB total Must not exceed 1MB total Adhere to Active Directory Schema extensibility rules Adhere to Active Directory Schema extensibility rules

Server Specification Security Services Document services that require more than User level privileges to run Document services that require more than User level privileges to run Win32 ® clients running in the context of a trusted domain account must support Single Sign-On Win32 ® clients running in the context of a trusted domain account must support Single Sign-On

Server Specification Cluster Service Applications must be able to install on 2 nodes for Advanced Server (up to 4 nodes for Datacenter Server) Applications must be able to install on 2 nodes for Advanced Server (up to 4 nodes for Datacenter Server) Applications must support failover to all cluster nodes Applications must support failover to all cluster nodes Clients must survive failure of server application without crashing or affecting the stability of the system Clients must survive failure of server application without crashing or affecting the stability of the system

Server Specification Best Practices Do not require a reboot Do not require a reboot Use SHGetFolderPath Use SHGetFolderPath Support Terminal Services Support Terminal Services Globalization and Localizability Globalization and Localizability Use 64-bit compatible data types Use 64-bit compatible data types Considerations for Cluster Service Considerations for Cluster Service

Server Specification Best Practices Considerations for Cluster Service Considerations for Cluster Service Windows Management Instrumentation Windows Management Instrumentation MMC snap-in for management tools MMC snap-in for management tools Expose a COM-based scripting model Expose a COM-based scripting model Use COM+ for Distributed Apps Use COM+ for Distributed Apps Run without NetBIOS Run without NetBIOS

Test Plan And Framework Published test plan and test framework Published test plan and test framework Test Plan for Desktop applications Test Plan for Desktop applications Test Framework for Server Test Framework for Server Tests cover virtually all requirements in the specification Tests cover virtually all requirements in the specification

Testing Preparation Internal pretesting using published plans and tools Internal pretesting using published plans and tools Pre-testing labs Pre-testing labs Custom test system configuration Custom test system configuration Applications won’t pass by accident Applications won’t pass by accident VeriTest and Vendor create functionality test plan VeriTest and Vendor create functionality test plan

Testing And Test Results Several functionality tests are run Several functionality tests are run No interim ‘good news’ reports during formal testing No interim ‘good news’ reports during formal testing Vendor reviews the report before it is made public Vendor reviews the report before it is made public Test results must be public for certification Test results must be public for certification

Exceptions Process Issues often identified in pre-testing Issues often identified in pre-testing Standard exceptions automatically given without escalating Standard exceptions automatically given without escalating All escalations come through VeriTest All escalations come through VeriTest 120 day deferrals require a legal agreement 120 day deferrals require a legal agreement

Exceptions Criteria Exceptions and deferrals must meet all of: Exceptions and deferrals must meet all of:  Difficult/impossible to implement solution  Issue has very limited or no customer impact  Fair treatment to competitors

Top Ten Causes Of Failure 6Doesn’t Support High Contrast modes 7Doesn’t Support Long Printer Names 8Invalid Windows Version Checking 9Not based on Windows Installer 10Doesn’t support Advertised Installation

Top Ten Causes Of Failure 1Not fully reading the Application Specification before submitting 1½ Not meeting with a TAM – it’s free! 2No support for OnNow/ACPI 3Not all files have File Associations 4Some Features do not have Keyboard Access 5 Doesn’t support Long Path and File Names

Useful Links Microsoft certification FAQs, downloads, etc.: Microsoft certification FAQs, downloads, etc.: VeriTest test results, TAMs, etc.: VeriTest test results, TAMs, etc.: Accessibility FAQ: Accessibility FAQ: Guidelines for Accessible Software Guidelines for Accessible Software