SoftICE - kernel mode debugger for Microsoft Windows [1] . The program is designed to control processes at a low level of Windows, and so that the operating system does not recognize the work of the debugger . Unlike the application debugger, SoftICE is able to pause all operations in Windows, which is very important for debugging drivers .
| Softice | |
|---|---|
 Driver debugging | |
| Type of | kernel level debugger |
| Developer | NuMega, Compuware |
| Written on | |
| operating system | Windows |
| Latest version | 4.2.7 |
| License | Proprietary software |
SoftICE was originally developed by NuMega , which included it in a software package for the rapid development of high-performance drivers called Driver Studio, which was subsequently acquired by Compuware .
Microsoft offers two kernel-mode debuggers: WinDbg and KD . However, unlike SoftICE, you can fully realize the capabilities of WinDbg and KD with only two computers connected via a link (cable). Therefore, SoftICE is an extremely useful tool for difficult problems in driver development. The latest version has been released for Windows XP.
Part of the name “ICE” is a hint of an abbreviation for in-circuit emulator .
SoftICE is very popular as a tool for hacking software .
Content
- 1 History
- 2 notes
- 3 References
- 4 See also
History
The original SoftICE for DOS was written in 80386 assembler for the DOS operating system in 1987 by NuMega founders Frank Grossman ( en: Frank Grossman ) and Jim Moskun ( en: Jim Moskun ). The program served as the operating system, managed the software in virtual 8086 processor mode, and sold for $ 386.
SoftICE / W (for Windows) for Windows was developed in the 1990s and played an important role in writing the book “Undocumented Windows” [2] by Andrew Schulman , David Maxley ( en: David Maxey ) and Matt Pitrek ( en: Matt Pietrek ). SoftIce / W was based on the early little-known product SoftICE for Netware , which works in protected mode on 32-bit processors. One of SoftIce / W's improvements was the ability to work on the same machine. At that time, for debugging using Microsoft tools, it was necessary to connect two machines using a serial port .
NuMega released SoftIce as part of a driver development package called NuMega DriverStudio.
The main developers of SoftICE were Dom Basil ( en: Dom Basile , 'Mr. SoftICE'), Tom Gunther ( en: Tom Guinther , en: Kitchen Sink , character engine), Gerald Rykman ( en: Gerald Ryckman , video driver and en: Kitchen Sink ), Ray Qiu (Ray Hsu, video driver for Windows 95 ) and Dan Babcock ( en: Dan Babcock , SoftICE / NT 3.1 / 3.5: universal video driver, character engine), as well as several NuMega developers, including Frank Grossman ( en : Frank Grossman ), Jim Moskan ( en: Jim Moskun ) and Matt Pitrek ( en: Matt Pietrek ).
In 1995, SoftICE / 95 code was ported to the Windows NT platform.
In 1997, en: Compuware took over NuMega and renamed the package Compuware DriverStudio.
SoftIce used the undocumented low-level features of Microsoft Windows , so it rarely worked on new versions of Windows.
Since April 3, 2006 , the sale of products of the DriverStudio family has been discontinued due to “many technical and business problems, as well as the general state of the market.” Support ended July 11, 2007 [3] .
The latest version of Compuware DriverStudio has been released for Windows XP .
In 2009, Compuware sold the source code and patents to Micro Focus . Micro Focus does not currently support the product "for various technical and commercial reasons."
Notes
- ↑ There are also older versions of SoftICE for DOS-compatible systems.
- ↑ "Undocumented Windows" on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Undocumented-Windows-Programmers-Microsoft-Programming/dp/0201608340
- ↑ Announcement on Matt Pietrek's blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/matt_pietrek/archive/2007/06/11/rip-numega-lab.aspx
Links
- SoftICE Archive
- Using NuMega DriverStudio to Write WDM Drivers
- Installing the SoftICE Debugger on Windows XP SP1, SP2
- How to break Windows programs
- Translation of the NuMega Soft-ICE 2.62-2.80 debugger instruction manual for DOS
- Translation of the Numega Soft-ICE 4.01 debugger instruction manual for Windows XX
See also
- Debugger
- Cracker
- Driver
- DDK