Microsoft® Provisioning Framework (MPF) uses providers to execute requests. A provider is a COM object with one or more procedures that automate specific tasks. The provider is implemented as a .DLL file with a corresponding registered in the configuration database.

MPF ships with a number of providers and namespaces that support:

• Microsoft® Active Directory®
• Execution of scripts and commands
• Error remapping for localization and context-sensitive applications
• Windows file system and registry
• HTTP and SOAP requests
• SQL Server™
• Application installation using Microsoft® Windows® Installer

For a complete list, see Standard Providers and Namespaces.

In addition to using standard providers, it is possible to develop custom providers for provisioning applications that require unique solutions.

Architecture