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Updating a Provider

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Sometimes you may need to install a newer version of a provider onto a running system. If your provider is installed as a DLL, you can install a new provider without having to restart the service, reboot the computer, or otherwise affect any applications using WMI at that time.

The following procedure describes how to update a provider.

To update a provider

  1. Build the new provider.

    1. Compile the new provider with a different DLL name and a different CLSID.

      For example, change Myprov.dll to Myprov1.dll, and CLSID_MyProProv to CLSID_MyProv1.

    2. Modify the provider registration MOF file to use the new CLSID (CLSID_MyProv1), but the same provider name ("MyProv").

  2. Install the new provider.

    1. Copy the new provider DLL with the new name alongside the old one.

    2. Self-register the new provider.

      For example, use the regsvr32 myprov1.dll command to register the new provider.

    3. Compile the new provider registration MOF, thus overwriting the old provider registration. Until this point, the old provider was fully functional; now the new provider is fully operational.

  3. Remove the old version of the provider, if necessary.

    1. Unregister the old DLL.

      For example, use the regsvr32 /umyprov.dll command to unregister the old DLL.

    2. Mark the old DLL to be deleted on reboot by calling MoveFileEx.

You can take similar steps to upgrade a local server-implemented provider.

Developing a WMI Provider

Setting Namepace Security Descriptors

Securing Your Provider