Microsoft WHQL and CNR HCTs Mark Williams, Hardware Technical Evangelist Microsoft

Agenda Current Situation –A CNR device logo can be obtained for a particular riser/motherboard combination with current HCTs –Additional CNR tests are being developed for CNR and motherboard vendors WHQL CNR Logo Program Progression –Step 1: Logo Systems and CNR Device/MB Combinations –Step 2: Independent CNR Device Logo –Step 3: Independent CNR Motherboard Logo –Step 4: Self-Testing for All Calls to Action

Current Situation WHQL is developing CNR HCTs –First CNR hardware is being submitted to WHQL –Using existing HCTs to test that hardware Audio, Net, Modem, and USB HCTs for example –Adding manual tests for CNR specific functionality to HCTs As more CNR hardware is submitted and logo’d, WHQL will select reference CNR motherboards and reference CNR cards –Long-range plan for enabling self-testing

CNR Test Development Risks CNR cards not compatible across all systems –By spec, CNR is not a retail upgrade path Only OEM configuration allowed Motherboard complexity increases –New WHQL tests assertions required System BIOS complexity increases –New WHQL tests assertions required Some additions to current HCTs proposed –Also, some tests in the current HCTs may not be applicable for CNR

WHQL CNR Logo Program Summary Plan is a sequence of four steps –Step 1: Establish processes for a CNR capable system logo and a CNR device logo. In this step the MB and devices will be logo’d as a combination. –Step 2: Establish a small set of reference CNR motherboards and tests for CNR device vendors –Step 3: Establish a set of reference CNR devices and tests for CNR motherboard vendors –Step 4: Self-testing by all CNR vendors Step 1 is complete –WHQL can accept MB/CNR combination submissions today

Step 1: Logo Systems and CNR Device/MB Combinations For systems that use a CNR capable motherboard –Case 1: Logo for a system shipped with CNR MB and no bundled CNR devices Use current system HCT test kit –Case 2: Logo for a system shipped with CNR MB and bundled CNR devices Each specific CNR device/MB combination must be logo’d Use current system and device HCT test kits CNR/MB logo can be obtained by system vendor or riser vendor Use current HCT test kits for a CNR-device logo that is tied to a specific MB Complete additional CNR-specific manual tests

Step 2: Independent CNR Device Logo Reference CNR MBs selected by WHQL from Step 1 submissions –Enables CNR riser testing to be independent of a motherboard –Starts when 2 or 3 CNR MBs from different vendors meet logo quality in Step 1 testing These CNR MBs become test reference MBs –Must be available to entire PC industry –WHQL will work proactively with PC industry and reference MB vendors to achieve this

Step 2: How to use Reference MBs CNR vendor self-test –Test a CNR device with all reference MBs –Use all WHQL CNR tests applicable to that CNR riser WHQL repeats testing procedure –If all tests pass, that CNR card gets a logo

Step 3: Independent CNR MB Logo Reference CNR cards selected by WHQL from Step 2 submissions –Enables CNR motherboard testing to be independent of a system and a particular riser –Starts when: Enough CNR risers from different vendors meet logo quality in Step 2 testing All new CNR tests are ready These CNR cards become MB test references –Must be available to entire PC industry –WHQL will work proactively with PC industry and reference riser vendors to achieve this

Step 3: How to use Reference Risers Motherboard vendor self-test –Test a motherboard with all reference risers –Use all WHQL CNR tests WHQL repeats testing procedure –If all tests pass, that CNR motherboard gets a logo

Step 4: CNR Self-Test Submissions Starts when it becomes clear to WHQL that CNR solutions will work with any logo’d CNR motherboard

Calls to Action System Vendors –Submit systems with CNR motherboards now for WHQL logo With or without a bundled CNR riser Obtain CNR/MB combination logo if using CNR –Work with your CNR motherboard and/or CNR riser hardware partners to get their products to Microsoft to qualify as a reference –For more information, contact

Calls to Action CNR Motherboard Vendors –Work with Microsoft to establish your motherboard/BIOS combination as a test reference –This will speed up the start of Step 2 of the WHQL plan –For more information, contact

Calls to Action CNR Card Vendors –Work with Microsoft to establish your CNR riser as a test reference Especially risers that have wide functional coverage: audio, net, and USB all on the same riser –This will speed up the start of Step 3 and Step 4 of the WHQL plan –For more information, contact