 | Creating 64-Bit Driver Installers |
Nimbus includes support for creating 64-bit installers that fully comply with the IVI Foundation specifications for 64-bit driver installers. The generation of a 64-bit driver installer is controlled by two settings -- the Create a 64-bit installer and Create a 32-bit installer check boxex on the General Page of the Project Properties. Though enabling this feature is simple, several implications must be carefully considered.
Creating Both 32-Bit and 64-Bit Driver InstallersThis section applies when a 32-bit driver is being created. For details on creating 64-bit-only installers, see the section below.
When 64-bit support is enabled and 32-bit support IS enabled, the following are true:
Two IVI nodes appear in the Setup Designer, indicating that there are two distinct installation trees on the target machine. Consequently, installer customizations must be done independently for the 32-bit and 64-bit installation trees.
Building the setup project produces two .msi packages -- one for use on a 32-bit machine and one for use on a 64-bit machine.
Before attempting to build the setup project, the driver MUST be built twice -- once with a 32-bit target and once with a 64-bit target.
ImportantIf the 32-bit build and the 64-bit build of the driver are not both performed before the setup project is built, then the setup project build will fail.
The generation of the 32-bit installer is affected by the decision to generate a 64-bit installer. The 32-bit installer is modified so that it cannot be installed on a 64-bit machine. This is done as per the IVI Foundation specifications, and is intended to prevent end users from unknowningly using a 32-bit installer on a 64-bit machine when a 64-bit installer is actually available.
Important32-bit installers generated when the 64-bit support check box is checked will NOT install on a 64-bit machine.
Any additional DLLs or EXEs added to the 64-bit installer (i.e. support binarys or example programs) MUST be compiled as native 64-bit. The 64-bit installer places all driver files in the native 64-bit folders, not in the WoW64 (Windows-on-Windows 64-bit) folders
When 64-bit support is NOT enabled and 32-bit support IS enabled, the following are true:
A single IVI node appears in the Setup Designer, indicating that there is a single installation tree on the target machine, whether the target machine is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Building the setup project produces a single 32-bit .msi package.
Before attempting to build the setup project, the driver must be built with a 32-bit target.
The installer can be used on either a 32-bit machine or a 64-bit machine. When used on a 64-bit machine, the driver files will be installed in the WoW64 (Windows-on-Windows 64-bit) folders.
Creating 64-Bit-Only Driver InstallersThis section applies when a 32-bit driver is NOT being created. These drivers can only run on 64-bit systems.
When 64-bit support is enabled and 32-bit support is NOT enabled, the following are true:
A single IVI node appears in the Setup Designer, indicating that there is a single installation tree on the 64-bit target machine.
Building the setup project produces a single 64-bit .msi package.
The resulting installer will refuse to run on a 32-bit operating system.
Any additional DLLs or EXEs added to the 64-bit installer (i.e. support binarys or example programs) MUST be compiled as native 64-bit. The 64-bit installer places all driver files in the native 64-bit folders, not in the WoW64 (Windows-on-Windows 64-bit) folders