Glossary
This section provides definitions of commonly used words or terms within the Windows Hardware Certification Kit (Windows HCK)
C
child machine pool
A machine pool that is contained within another ("parent") machine pool. Several child machine pools can be created as part of a parent machine pool in the machine pool hierarchy.
client computer
A computer that the HCK client has been installed on. You use HCK to run tests on client computers.
configuration job
A job that sets the value of a dimension. Configuration jobs can be executed automatically to satisfy the constraints of another job that is executing.
constraint
A triplet that consists of a dimension, an operator, and a value. A constraint is part of the job definition. A job can only execute on client computers that match the job's constraints. For example, a job that had the following constraint could only be executed on client computers that have an x86 processor. See also dimension.
context
A set of constraints that are specified in a job. For example, if a job included the constraints "WTT\OS equals Windows XP" and "WTT\RAM-MB greater than 512", then these two constraints would form the job's context. See also dimension, mix.
controller
A computer that the HCK controller has been installed on. The controller stores data about jobs, client computers, and HCK users, and it manages job scheduling.
Copy File task
A task that copies files from a remote location to the client computer.
Copy Result task
A task that copies files from the client computer to a remote location.
custom dependencies
User-defined relationships between tasks in a job that specify the order in which the tasks execute.
D
Dashboard
The website that you use to submit or manage your packages as part of the Windows Certification Program. This site replaces Winqual.
daemon task
A task that begins running either before all other tasks in a phase, or after all other tasks in a phase. A daemon task can run in parallel with other tasks.
DCT
See Display Compatibility Test.
default pool
The machine pool that computers are initially placed in when the HCK client is installed.
dimension
A key/value pair that identifies a characteristic of a client computer. For example, a dimension with the key "ProcessorCount" might have the value "1" on one client computer and the value "4" on another client computer.
A job can include constraints, which indicate that the job can run only on client computers that have a specific value for a dimension.
Display Compatibility Test
A test that verifies display functionality on computers running Windows.
HCK administrator
An HCK user account that has administrator privileges. An HCK administrator can create machine pools, create HCK user accounts, and grant privileges to the HCK user accounts.
An HCK administrator often has an account with administrative privileges on the computer that is running the HCK controller, but this type of account is not required.
When you install the HCK controller, an HCK user account is automatically created for you, and your account is automatically given administrator privileges.
E
EA
See also execution agent (EA).
execution agent (EA)
A component of the HCK client that executes the tasks of a job.
Execute task
A task that executes a command line.
F
Feature
An attribute of a job that organizes jobs within a hierarchy.
Within Job Explorer, you expand nodes of the feature hierarchy to locate jobs.
G
gatherer
A program that collects information about a client computer.
global parameter
A parameter that can be used by all jobs on the HCK controller. You can define global parameters by using the Management Console.
H
HCK Client
A test computer that the HCK client application has been installed on. You use HCK Studio to run tests on client (test) computers.
HCK Controller
The HCK Controller stores data about jobs, client computers, and HCK users, and it manages job scheduling.
A collection of string values which should provide sufficient information to correlate to see if a driver should be loaded for any specific device.
HCK Manager
This item was previous known as the DTM Studio. Use the HCK Manager to access Windows Logo Kit functionality that is included in the Windows HCK.
HCK Studio
The user interface for Windows HCK. By using HCK Studio, you can run tests, monitor the progress of jobs, and review test logs.
J
job
A collection of tasks that can be run on a client computer. A job describes the order in which to execute the tasks. A job can identify conditions that a client computer must meet to run the job.
L
library job
A job that has been stored and can be used by another job.
LLU
See Local Logical User.
Local Logical User (LLU)
A mapping from a variable to a user account on each client computer.
For example, the Local Logical User (LLU) with the name AdminUser might map to the user account MyDomain\User6 with a password of My^Password%23 on one client computer, and to the user account MyDomain\User32 with a password of My#Password@97 on another client computer.
M
machine
A client computer that is a member of a machine pool. Client computers that are not in the System machine pool are test clients that you can execute jobs on.
machine pool
A virtual collection of computers, devices, or both that is created by a user to help manage the testing process.
Machine Set
A set of computers that play the same role in a job that requires multiple computers. For example, a job that required more than one computer might have a client machine set and a server machine set.
Manual Prompt task
A task that displays a prompt and options to the user and waits for the user to make a selection.
Master client
The test computer that issues commands to another test computer on a test network.
MC
See Master client.
mix
A set of contexts that is specified in a job. The job can be executed on a computer that matches any of the contexts. For example, a job could specify a mix that consisted of two contexts. Context 1 could consist of the constraints "WTT\OS equals Windows XP" and "WTT\RAM-MB greater than 512". Context 2 could consist of the constraints "WTT\OS equals Windows Server 2003" and "WTT\RAM-MB greater than 1000". In this case, the job's mix would specify that the job could run on client computers with Windows XP and more than 512 MB of RAM, or client computers with Windows Server 2003 and more than 1GB of RAM. See also constraint.
P
package
A container that can include jobs and the other data that is required to run the jobs. Packages are used for grouping, storing, and sharing jobs.
Parameter
A variable that provides information to a task. Global parameters are defined by using the Management Console. Local variables are defined within a job. Default values for parameters can be overridden when a job is scheduled.
PD
Push Daemon. A component of the HCK controller that sends a job to the client computer to execute.
R
result
The information that is created when you execute a job. Each instance of a job creates a result that contains the start time, end time, and completion status of the job's tasks; any error messages; a link to the job's log files; and more detailed information.
result collection
A group of results. When you execute a job, a result collection is created to contain the job's results. If more than one instance of a job is created when a job is executed, the results of all of the job instances are stored in one result collection. You can specify your own result collection to hold results, and you can add, modify, delete, or move results within result collections.
Run Job task
A task that runs a library job.
S
SC
See Subordinate client.
schedule
Adds a job to the list of jobs that are ready to run. A job that has been scheduled will run when a client computer that meets the job's constraints is available.
scheduler
A component of the HCK controller that assigns a job to execute on a specific client computer.
System under test
The computer being tested.
Subordinate client
A computer that acts as a client during testing on a network.
SUT
See System under test.
T
task
A unit of work to be done on a client computer. The most common tasks execute a command line, copy files, or prompt the user to perform a manual action.
test harness
A software application that is used to automate testing.
W
Windows Certification Program
A new program that replaces the previous Windows Logo Program.
Windows Hardware Certification Kit
The application provided as part of the Windows Certification Program that enables you to test your device or computer for Windows certification.
Windows HCK
See Windows Hardware Certification Kit.
Winqual
The previous web service that supported hardware submission for Windows 7. This site is replaced by the Hardware Dashboard in the Windows Dev Center.