Definition of I/O Manager in the Network Encyclopedia.
What is I/O Manager?
I/O Manager is a component of Microsoft Windows NT executive running in kernel mode that is responsible for all Windows NT input/output functions. The I/O Manager integrates various networking components, including the following:
- File system drivers
- Networking protocols
- Network adapter card drivers
How it works
The I/O Manager is modular or layered in design. It consists of the three networking component layers listed in this entry separated by two boundary layers, the Transport Driver Interface (TDI) layer and the network driver interface specification (NDIS) layer.
The I/O Manager receives a request for shared network resources and determines whether the requested resource is local or remote. If the request is for a remote resource, it is forwarded to the appropriate redirector.
