This chapter describes how a component communicates with the DMI through the Component Interface (CI) and how component instrumentation registers with the service layer and send indications.

Calls from the service layer through the CI use only attribute, group and key identifiers for naming. By the time the component instrumentation is reached, the service layer has resolved the component ID. Indications sent from the component instrumentation through the CI also need the component ID so that the service layer can identify the component instrumentation.

The mechanics of the communication from the service layer to the component instrumentation are specific to the operating system environment. The entry point function calls that the component instrumentation must respond to are DmiCiInvoke() and DmiCiCancel().

The service layer is responsible for launching the component instrumentation, if necessary, and for passing along the command blocks.