Using the VixCOM library

I recently had a requirement to automate testing of kernel mode drivers under various operating systems. We also needed the automated testing to be part of the MSBuild process, so we needed to be able to control the tests by either using a .NET component or a COM Control. Obviously we couldn’t use the build machine to run any of the tests because if a kernel mode driver fails, it usually kills the system with a BSOD(blue screen of death) and that would greatly interfere with the whole build process.

I took a look at Microsoft’s Virtual Server, but I have always thought it was not that intuitive. Since we already use the VMWare Workstation solution for various development tasks, the Free VMWare Server was the ideal choice. VMWare has a few SDK alternatives that allow you to automate VMWare Workstation and Server. The Vix API allows us to control VMWare Server and load virtual machines, revert to last snapshots, copy files onto the VM, and run programs in the virtual machines. The VixCOM COM component will allow us to easily use the API’s within our C# project.