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What is Windows XP Service Pack 2?
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) has been likened to "XP Version 2" by some. Others have called it a re-release of
the entire operating system because it has such wide reaching implications for some applications. Lets explore this more and see how it may affect you as a user of
software products for industrial automation and process control.
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"Users
with OPC applications where the OPC client and OPC server are on different PCs must use caution with Windows XP SP2. The Best Practices included
here are a "must read" for these application types."
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Microsoft's goal with XP Service Pack 2 is to have the operating
system be default be configured to block some of the most common exploits used by hackers and viruses at the point of entry, versus
trying to deal with known exploits. By reducing the number of places someone can attack the operating system in its default configuration,
Microsoft intends to provide a more secure operating system.
The enhancements cover several major areas:
- Totally new Windows Firewall - this new built in firewall is
on by default, is enabled before XP turns on the network connectivity during the boot process, and has more points of entry blocked by default than ever before.
- Enhanced protection from buffer overruns - the buffer overrun is a common method used
to hack into machines. With XP SP2 Microsoft promises a default setup that mitigates the effects of these much better than before.
- Security enhancements to Internet Explorer - enhanced popup blocking, windows
messenger service is off by default, and more.
- Security enhancements to Outlook Express - potentially unsafe documents are blocked
by default and images in HTML email are not downloaded by default
Click to read Microsoft's top 10 reasons to deploy XP SP2
What Is the Big Deal About Windows XP Service Pack 2 ?
For all the benefits Microsoft is extolling, there is a price. With more services and network points of
entry locked down than ever before, users with systems in a client/server networked architecture
could easily see their system operation seriously disrupted if they were to just deploy Windows XP SP2 without planning and consideration of it's effects.
Microsoft has not kept this fact a secret, but we find too many people still aren't aware that they
should not just install XP SP2 because it's out there without first considering it's potential impact.
For users of products that utilize OPC, the new Windows firewall can cause communications to stop
if users don't plan and adjust accordingly.
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Important Question: Do you have systems where the OPC Client (i.e. HMI/SCADA system) is on one computer, and the OPC Server(s) you connect to are on separate computers ?
- If you answered Yes:
- Regardless of whether you are using DCOM or a proprietary network protocol DCOM
replacement (i.e. OPC tunneling products) to connect your client and server OPC applications, you WILL BE IMPACTED by the new Windows
Firewall included in XP SP2
- You should consider turning off any automatic installation of XP SP2 by Windows
Update and advise all affected users IMMEDIATELY to not install XP SP2 without consulting yourself or IT staff first.
- You should read
- If you answered No:
- You may not have detrimental effects from installing XP SP2; however,
- You may still want to consider reading the Best Practices guide and by all means you should contact all of your application software vendors to insure they are prepared to support their applications on XP SP2.
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Why These Web Pages? Why All This Detail ?
Simple - because XP SP2 is a potential big deal, and you owe it to yourself and your organization to
be educated about the effects of it. Software Toolbox is providing these web pages as a public
service. With the exception of our product status listing, these pages are "generic" in nature in the
information they present. The information found here will help any automation user in some form or
fashion. The information presented can be used to augment information provided by your software
vendors or in the lack of information, at least give you somewhere to start.
Yes we've gone into great detail - that's what we try to do at Software Toolbox when we are
attacking potential problems like the ones that XP SP2 presents. We try to dive into the details and
document what we find and openly share it with our clients and others who might benefit.
Questions?
If you have questions about our support for XP SP2, please send them to support@softwaretoolbox.com.
We are providing this in depth information free as a public service to the automation industry and its
users; however, we are not able to provide technical support for applications that do not involve any of our products.
Also - these web pages are Copyright Software Toolbox Inc, 2004. You are welcome to link to
this page from your website; however, you are not welcome to copy our content or otherwise plagiarize it for your own website.
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