Microsoft Windows XP Embedded

Windows XP Embedded is a component version of Microsoft Windows XP Professional with additional opportunities for embedding and the tools supporting development process of specialized images of the operating system.

Creation of the built-in system with rich functionality, the most compatible as with the available desktop operating system and the existing application software, and with development process of application programs, usual for programmers, was a main objective of development of the special version of XP, Embedded.

Features

As the Windows XP Embedded operating system consists of the same binary files, as Windows XP Professional, practically all opportunities which are in XP Professional, are supported also in XP Embedded, for example:

• preemptive multitasking;
• support of several processors;
• Win32 API;
• model of drivers of Windows (WDM);
• encoded file system (EFS);
• IP Security (IPSec);
• Kerberos;
• Windows Firewall;
• DEP (Data Execution Prevention);
• Internet Explorer 6;
• version 9 Windows Media player;
• support of DirectX 9.0c API;
• remote desktop (Remote Desktop);
• points system recovery (System Restore Point);
• recovery console (Recovery Console);
• Windows Management Instrumentation;
• TCP/IP, UDP;
• IPv6 protocol;
• wireless networks and devices (Wi-Fi, IrD, Bluetooth);
• Internet Information Server;
• .NET Framework 1.1;
• ASP.NET and dr;

In addition, a system supports additional opportunities for embedding:

• Enhanced Write Filter, i.e. loading from carriers only for reading; it is hardwired the carrier from record;
• loading with CompactFlash;
• loading with CD ROM, according to the El Torito standard;
• loading from Disk-On-Chip devices;
• loading of the operating system from the saved file, the Hibernate Once Resume Many mode, loading of the operating system happens for 5 with in in advance configured status.
• self-contained units (without mouse, the monitor, the keyboard);
• loading on network (PXE), loading of a system at the image which is on the server;
• the agent of updating of devices (DUA), allows to update an image after deployment;
• interception of system messages;
• use of an operating system shell.

Compatibility with other technologies of Microsoft

Possibility of interaction with standards and technologies of Microsoft for desktop computers and servers:

• Systems Management Server (SMS)
• Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)
• SQL Server Microsoft /SQL Express
• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
• Windows Media Player 10

Additions

Service Pack 1

The new features which appeared in Windows XP Embedded with an exit of Service Pack 1:

• Remote loading
• Agent of updating of the device
• Manager of an image of system deployment
• Preliminary analysis of required volume
• Packets of support of languages
• Updates of a security system with Windows XP with Service Pack 1
• Support of USB 2.0
• Support of IPv6
• Support of a. net Framework
• Services WinHTTP

Service Pack 2

The innovations which appeared in Windows XP Embedded with an exit of Service Pack 2:

• Security is improved
• The improved functions of a sound playback and video and processing of graphics in Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 and Microsoft DirectX 9.
• Support of Bluetooth and Remote Desktop Protocol of version 5.2.
• Support of a. net Framework of version 1.1

Feature Pack 2007

With a packet of Feature Pack 2007 following features appear:

• Support of a. net Framework 2.0
• SQL Express support
• New tools for work with the command line
• Expansion of opportunities of a vstraivayemost
• Reduction of the sizes, etc.

Problems for ATMs after the termination of support of OS

By December 12, 2015 there was exactly a month before the end of official support Windows XP Embedded. As a huge number of ATMs works on this operating system worldwide, the lack of updates for it can become a serious problem for credit institutions.

Microsoft will complete expanded support of Windows XP Embedded on January 12, 2016. From this day the built-in platform will not receive any corrections and additions from software giant which recommends to hurry with transition to new OS.

The termination of support of Windows XP Embedded threatens ATMs

In a case with Windows XP, many companies did not hurry to update the computer systems. With Windows XP Embedded a similar situation: only in one Great Britain by the beginning of December, 2015 the majority of ATMs of 70 thousand working in the country are controlled this operating system, notes V3 edition.

"It creates serious problems for banks and puts at risk money of their clients which after expensive Christmas holidays will begin to check the accounts", – Kerry Davies, the CEO of the Abatis company specializing in technologies of information security said.

According to the researcher of Kaspersky Lab David Emma (David Emm), ATMs quite often become a target for cybercriminals, and difficulties are added by the fact that these systems are closed.

"After installation usually do not contact them any more. It means that operation of ATMs cannot be corrected or updated" — the expert reported.

According to European ATM Security association, in 2014 in the territory of Western Europe 51 incidents connected with thefts of money from ATMs by means of hacker methods occurred. Then 1.23 million euros were stolen in total. Experts say that use of the unmodern operating system was the main problem in these cases.

Meanwhile, specialists of Imperva consider exaggerated expected negative effects of work with Windows XP Embedded after the termination of its support. The matter is that many banks rather responsibly approach questions of information security therefore use several levels of protection and also the isolated protected networks, noted in Imperva.

In the Link association controlling operation of ATMs in Europe say that by the beginning of December, 2015 some representatives of the organization already transferred the ATMs to Windows 7, and other companies or will make it by the beginning of 2016, or completely change IT platforms and will implement them during 2016.^[1]

Links

• Windows XP Embedded overview
• Windows ХР Embedded

Notes