Kernel and User Mode Driver Framework 1.11 update - what it is and why you need it

What is it?

The Windows Driver Frameworks (WDF) is a set of libraries that you can use to write device drivers that run on the Windows operating system. WDF defines a single driver model that is supported by two frameworks: Kernel-Mode Driver Kernel Mode Driver Framework (KMDF) and User-Mode Driver Framework (UMDF). KMDF\UMDF is provided by Microsoft to allow component drivers to leverage the framework to minimize what is needed to be included with the driver.  This is great for the IT Professional until a driver is written to a specific version of the KMDF\UMDF which your system may not currently support.  This happened previously with Windows Vista and is now being seen on some Windows 7 systems that do not have the 1.11 version of KMDF  and the 1.11 version of UMDF

Why you need them – Without these, there is a potential of experiencing failure in your Windows 7 OS Deployment process \ seeing devices in Device Manager that you know have drivers available to them but aren't properly installed. To ensure this does not happen you should update your base image with KMDF 1.11 and UMDF 1.11 to make sure that current and future drivers will be installed properly.