What does FBA taste like?

First Boot Agent (FBA) is Embedded's version of XP setup. It performs runtime tasks like PNP enumeration, DLL/COM registration on the target system. FBA is a collection of tasks that are run at specified phase during the setup. These tasks are stored under the HKLM\ System \CCS \Control \WindowsEmbedded \ FBA registry key during the creation of an Embedded runtime using target designer. This registry key is also called the FBA key.

Ever wondered what FBA comprised of? Here is a short list of the various files involved with FBA and their role during setup.

Fba.exe - This is the executable portion of the First Boot Agent, which normally creates a user interface for the purpose of displaying progress information. The real work of the First Boot Agent is done by FBAProcessDLLsInOrder, which is implemented in FBALIB.DLL. 

fbalib.dll - This is the primary core of the First Boot Agent. All FBA binaries express a dependency on fbalib.dll which contains APIs for accessing all shared data and UI

fbapnp.dll- Performs plug-and-play detection .This component of the First Boot Agent makes a connection to the PNP Manager service and attempts to install every enumerated device ID. The installation involved three passes. One for PNP enumerated devices, one for Legacy devices, and a third for any PNP devices that became available as a result of Legacy devices

fbanet.dll - This is the component responsible for setting the computer name, installing TCP/IP and DHCP, binding the protocols and services to adapters, and joining a workgroup

fbasec.dll - This component is responsibly for initializing and configuring the security database, creating user accounts, setting passwords, and for generating account SIDs.

fbacert.dll- This component is responsibly for installing the cryptographic functionality that is used for driver signing. It also registers system catalogs with the crypto database so that class installers can be loaded by SetupAPI during Plug-n-Play. Without this functionality many devices, most noticeably display adapters, are not installed properly.

fbareg.dll - Performs DLL registration and processes RunOnce keys

fbaprof.dll - Initializes system profiles

fbaocm.dll - Integrates optional components in the setup process

Each of these dlls perform their tasks at different phases during FBA. To get a better idea on what tasks are run and what dlls are involved with the various tasks, you can view the FBA key.

References:
- FBA's online Documentation @ MSDN
- FBA: "Not just a pretty face"

- Nandini