Version Section in a Network INF File

Article
12/15/2021

The Version section in a network INF file is based on the generic INF Version section.

The Version section in a network INF file has the following network-specific entries:

Class
ClassGuid
Signature and Operating System Entries
PnpLockDown
CatalogFile
Version Section Example

Class

The Version section should contain a Class entry which identifies the class of network component that is installed by the file.

There are four network classes:

Net
Specifies a physical or virtual network adapter. NDIS intermediate drivers, which export virtual network adapters, are included in the Net class.

NetTrans
Specifies a network protocol, such as TCP/IP, IPX, a connection-oriented client, or a connection-oriented call manager.

NetClient
Specifies a network client, such as the Microsoft Client for Networks or the NetWare Client. A NetClient component is considered to be a network provider and, if it provides print services over the network, it is also considered to be a print provider.

Note NetClient components are deprecated in Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and later.

NetService
Specifies a network service, such as a file service or a print service.

Note Infrared Data Association (IrDA) compliant devices are not categorized as any of the previous four network classes, even though they are installed by the network class installer. An INF file that is used to install an IrDA device should have a Class value of Infrared. This class includes both Serial-IR and Fast-IR devices.

Note Support for IrDA miniport drivers has been removed from NDIS 6.30 (Windows 8) and later.

ClassGuid

The Version section must contain a ClassGuid entry. The network class installer uses the ClassGuid entry to determine the class of network component being installed.

There are four network ClassGuid values, each of which corresponds to a network class:

Network class	ClassGuid
Net	{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
NetTrans	{4D36E975-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
NetClient	{4D36E973-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
NetService	{4D36E974-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

An INF file for an IrDA device should have a ClassGuid value of

{6bdd1fc5-81d0-bec7-08002be2092f}.

Signature and Operating System Entries

The Signature entry must be $Windows NT$.

PnpLockDown

The PnpLockDown entry should be set to 1 to prevent applications from directly modifying the files that your driver package's INF file specifies. For more information about this entry, see INF Version Section.

CatalogFile

The CatalogFile entry is used to declare an optional driver-supplied .cat file. For more information, see the Vendor-supplied files section of Components and Files Used for Network Component Installation.

Version Section Example

The following is an example of a Version section for an INF file that installs a network adapter:

[Version]
Signature = $Windows NT$
Class=Net
ClassGuid = {4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Provider = %Msft%
DriverVer=06/22/2010,6.1.7065.0
PnpLockDown = 1
CatalogFile = netvmini630.cat

Note The Provider entry indicates the developer of the INF file, not the developer of the component that is installed by the INF file.

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