HowTo: build hostap-source

[zencoder]

This is a short and sweet HowTo. I'm not going to go into every single detail, but I will mention all points.

I use an SMC2532W-B for work, where I occasionally perform a Technical Security Analysis of a location, including wifi signal detection. This card is ideal for .11b/g, and hostap is one of the better drivers for monitor mode. I do *not* use this card/drive for wifi network connectivity, so if you do YMMV.

First off, I have Breezy 5.10 installed, with all repositories enabled (that is, I did not have to download any .tgz files or compile anything from a source besides the Ubuntu repositories.)
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy main restricted
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security universe


You will need the following:
linux-headers package for your kernel
build-essential package
gcc-3.4 package (build kept failing on this command, 5.10 showed gcc-3.3 was installed. This fixed it.)
hostap-source package
fakeroot package

get them with your package manager of choice (Synaptic, apt-get install, etc.)

Change to superuser account, go to the source directory, and unpack the hostap-source.tar.bz2 file.

$ sudo su -
# cd /usr/src
# bunzip2 ./hostap-source.tar.bz2
# tar xvf ./hostap-source.tar

Change directory to the sources root and compile the module.

# cd modules/hostap-source
# fakeroot debian/rules binary-modules \
KSRC=/usr/src/linux-headers-$VERSION KVERS=$VERSION

$VERSION must be replaced by the
exact version string of the kernel you
want to build the module for (e.g. 2.6.12-10-686).

Install your newly compiled module.

# dpkg -i /usr/src/hostap-modules-blah-blah-blah.deb


Thats it! You should now have an installed working module.


---
If you are using the WIFI hi-power card I mentioned above (SMC2532W-B) you'll need to do one more thing...modify a single file for device recognition. As the superuser, open your favorite editor and go to the file /etc/pcmcia/hostap_cs.conf. Add the following line, and save the file.

card "SMC2532W-B EliteConnect Wireless Adapter"
manfid 0xd601, 0x0010
bind "hostap_cs"


I've written this HOWTO late at night and mostly from memory. If you have difficulty, please reply to the thread and I'll try to help as I can.