How To: Install Ndiswrapper (source, svn) - with Included Problem Solving Suggestions

kevdog · 05:59 AM

My own Personal Ndiswraper Guide - Troubleshooting Tips Included

Ive compiled this guide over many months after helping countless people with their installation procedure. Included in the guide is how to install ndiswrapper (from either source or svn). At the bottom of this guide are included many common tips and suggestions for problems that I have seen many people struggle with time and time again. I hope you find this guide useful and insightful. Please contact me with any additional tips that I can use (particularly troubleshooting tips) so that together we can make future installations of ndiswrapper as painless as possible.

Please read through the guide at least once before performing any of the commands. This will give you a better sense where everything is leading to.

To complete without a working internet connection you will need:
1. The ubuntu installation cd
2. USB flash drive
3. Another computer with an internet connection to transfer just a few files
4. WinXP drivers for your wireless card (unless you have a RTL chipset in which case you will need the Win98 drivers)
****Note that if you are doing an installation on Ubuntu 64 bit, that you will need the appropriate WinXP 64 bit driver for your wireless card
****The Broadcom 64 bit driver can be found here: http://www.linuxant.com/driverloader/drivers.php

This guide is now getting rather long. It is organized into the following sections
1. Installation of ndiswrapper and windows drivers from source files (what most people want)
2. Ensuring that your wireless interface is on wlan0 and not some other interace (eth1,ath1,etc)
3. Modification of /etc/network/interfaces file (for those wanting to use NetworkManager)
4. Common Tips Problems, Suggestions (This section is continually growing, check here first if you have a problem)

Download, Compiling, Installing and Configuring Ndiswrapper from Source Files

If you already have an internet connection (ie a working wired ethernet connection),
please skip to step #4. Without any internet connection, please begin at step #1.

All commands typed at command prompt:

Code:

   1. After booting into Ubuntu, put the Ubuntu installation CD in drive and wait for it to "spin up"
   2. sudo apt-cdrom add
   3. sudo aptitude update

The following command is formated with backticks (`) and not single quotes (')
Type the command as it is exactly written or just cut and paste the instruction to a terminal
   4. sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

OK next we want to download the ndiswrapper source files (Reference URL = http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...group_id=93482)

This guide assumes we are downloading and installing ndiswrapper version 1.48. As ndiswrapper is developed and new versions put forth, version 1.48 may not be available in the future. In this case it may be best to visit the ndiswrapper website and manually download the .tar.gz version for the most recent version - http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...group_id=93482. Use the remainder of this guide as a reference, paying close note to the actual version number that you have downloaded. Directories in this guide will be referenced for version 1.48. Directories may have to be reference by a different number (i.e 1.49) if using a more recent version.

***The following section will work if you have an internet connection
*** If you do not have an internet connection, on a different computer you will need to download the ndiswrapper source file from:
http://superb-east.dl.sourceforge.ne...er-1.48.tar.gz
Please place this file on an alternative transfer medium (USB Flash drive / or CD-ROM), transfer it to the Ubuntu machine, and place the file in the ~/ndiswrapper directory. Skip the instructions listed directly below and go to the next set of instructions for extracting ndiswrapper.
****Note: Those wanting to use the SVN version of ndiswrapper please skip to the appropriate section below

Code:

cd ~
mkdir ndiswrapper
wget http://superb-east.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper-1.48.tar.gz -O ~/ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper-1.48.tar.gz 
cd ndiswrapper

Extract ndiswrapper

Code:

tar -zxvf ndiswrapper-1.48.tar.gz
cd ndiswrapper-1.48

*** SVN version of ndiswrapper - An alternative installation method for those with existing ethernet connection
For those wanting to live on the edge and use the most recent beta release of ndiswrapper, this package can be download from the svn repository.
Install the subversion package

Code:

 sudo aptitude install subversion

Download the ndiswrapper svn package

Code:

cd ~
mkdir ndiswrapper
cd ndiswrapper
mkdir ndiswrapper-svn
svn co co https://ndiswrapper.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/ndiswrapper/trunk/ndiswrapper ndiswrapper-svn
cd ndiswrapper-svn

***

The remainder of the steps are applicable to all ndiswrapper installation methods
Compile and Install ndiswrapper

Code:

make distclean
make
sudo make install

Verify installation with

Code:

ndiswrapper -v

The output should be something similar to the following (svn version may differ slightly):

Code:

utils version: '1.9', utils version needed by module: '1.9'
module details:
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.20-16-generic/misc/ndiswrapper.ko
version:        1.48
vermagic:       2.6.20-16-generic SMP mod_unload 586

Next create and place your Window's wireless driver into ~/driver:

Code:

cd ~
mkdir driver
cd driver

Ensuring the ***.sys and ***.inf file for the Window's driver are in the~/driver directory:

Code:

sudo ndiswrapper -i *****.inf

Verify installation with:

Code:

ndiswrapper -l

Make sure no errors are reported and you get something like:

Quote:

bcmwl5: driver installed
device (14E4:4320) present

Ok, to insert the ndiswrapper module into the linux kernel:

Code:

sudo depmod -a

Ensure you dont get any errors when running this command. Then:

Code:

sudo modprobe ndiswrapper

To verify there wasnt any errors:

Code:

dmesg

and look for something like:

Quote:

ndiswrapper version version loaded

Next lets make an alias for wlan0 associated with ndiswrapper

Code:

sudo ndiswrapper -m

And ensure that the ndiswrapper module is loaded at boot:

Code:

echo "ndiswrapper" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules

I recommend rebooting at this time.

Code:

sudo shutdown -r now

Additional modifications may be needed to your /etc/network/interfaces and /etc/iftab files (see below).
In addition, please turn off any (WEP/WPA/MAC filtering) that may be present in the router. This is to confirm that the basic ndiswrapper setup can connect to an unencrypted network. Instructions how to configure for WEP/WPA encryption are included in another separate guide.

Ndiswrapper by default assumes your card to be assigned to the interface wlan0 -- this may or may not be the case.
If after rebooting, and you issue the following command:

Code:

ifconfig

And you do not see an interface named wlan0, then continue.
Below are some strategies that I have used to ensure that your wireless device is assigned to the wlan0 interface.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE /etc/iftab file IS ONLY PRESENT IN RELEASES PRE-GUTSY. WITH GUTSY AND HARDY RELEASES THE FOLLOWING SECTION IS NOT APPLICABLE
Verification/Modification of /etc/iftab file

The /etc/iftab file acts to permanently asssociate a given MAC Address with an interface name. Additions in this file are only necessary if you need to lock down the interface name with a MAC Address. First discover what interface name is currently associated to your network card MAC Address:

Code:

lshw -C network

Example output:

Code:

  *-network               
       description: Wireless interface
       product: BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller
       vendor: Broadcom Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@06:00.0
       logical name: wlan0
       version: 03
       serial: 00:12:17:35:17:10 
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ndiswrapper+lsbcmnds driverversion=1.48rc1+Cisco-Linksys ,LLC.,02/1 ip=192.168.1.101 latency=64 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11g
       resources: iomemory:3c000000-3c001fff irq:11

In the example above my card's MAC Address - 00:12:17:35:17:10 - is currently assigned to wlan0 (logical name line). If your card is assigned to a different logical name (such as eth1, ath0, ra0), then modifications will be needed to your /etc/iftab file.

To modify your /etc/iftab file:

Code:

gksu gedit /etc/iftab

You will need to ensure your interface name is associated with wlan0 rather than a different interface name. There are two ways to accomplish this:
#1) Let the computer do it automatically at boot,
#2) Manually make the association

In case #1 manually comment all the associations listed in your /etc/iftab file -- allow the computer to assign them internally at boot. This solution is probably the most viable for most users. An example of how to accomplish this:

Code:

# This file assigns persistent names to network interfaces.
# See iftab(5) for syntax.

#eth1 mac 00:12:17:35:17:10 arp 1

Because the association of eth1 with the MAC Address was commented, the computer will internally and automatically make the assocation of an interface name with the MAC address. This process of associating wlan0 with the networking device's MAC Address should work about 99% of the time. If for some reasom it does not, proceed to step #2.

In case #2 - Manually make the association you need to ensure there is only one MAC address associated with one interface name.

Code:

# This file assigns persistent names to network interfaces.
# See iftab(5) for syntax.

#eth1 mac 00:12:17:35:17:10 arp 1
wlan0 mac 00:12:17:35:17:10 arp 1

In this example the old interface associated of eth1 was commented, and the new association of wlan0 to the card MAC address was made manually.

If modification of the /etc/iftab file was performed, a reboot is recommended at this time.

Code:

sudo shutdown -r now

Modification of /etc/network/interfaces file

First step is to comment out all the unnecessary interface names with the file. In order to discover what interface names are currently needed:

Code:

lshw -C network

With all the devices listed, note their logical names. An example:

Code:

  *-network               
       description: Wireless interface
       product: BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller
       vendor: Broadcom Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@06:00.0
       logical name: wlan0
       version: 03
       serial: 00:12:17:35:17:10
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ndiswrapper+lsbcmnds driverversion=1.48rc1+Cisco-Linksys ,LLC.,02/1 ip=192.168.1.101 latency=64 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11g
       resources: iomemory:3c000000-3c001fff irq:11

Only the names mentioned with this command need to be listed in the /etc/network/interfaces file (along with the loopback address).

First backup your current interface file configuration in case something goes wrong:
[CODE]sudo cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/interfaces.bak

To modify your /etc/network/interfaces file:

Code:

gksu gedit /etc/network/interfaces

A basic interface file, might include the following (assuming a wired ethernet device is present - eth0, and the wireless device installed with ndiswrapper - wlan0) -- Note in this example I commented out the old eth1 interface -- I could have also removed these lines to have the same effect.

Code:

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp

#auto eth1
#iface eth1 inet dhcp

Further modications may be needed to this file, depending if you need to run your card in roaming mode (convenient with laptops that often connect to different routers of networks), configure your card with static IP address, desire to set WEP/WPA authentication parameters manually, etc. Again there are many possibilites at this point, far too many to list the different permutations, however this gives you a basic starting point.

Common Tips Problems, Suggestions

Suggestions:
1. The command lshw -C network always tells you what driver you are using. Here is an example:

Code:

  *-network               
       description: Wireless interface
       product: BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller
       vendor: Broadcom Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@06:00.0
       logical name: wlan0
       version: 03
       serial: 00:12:17:35:17:10
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ndiswrapper+lsbcmnds driverversion=1.48rc1+Cisco-Linksys ,LLC.,02/1 ip=192.168.1.102 latency=64 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11g
       resources: iomemory:3c000000-3c001fff irq:11

If you are having a problem after the installation, ensure that you have the correct version of ndiswrapper installed, and that you are not using another driver.

2. Discovering your chipset -- You can always find the chipset of your pci wireless device with the following command (***Note this will not work for wireless USB dongles):

Code:

lspci -nn | grep Network

3. Broadcom chipset users -- Be sure to blacklist the bcm43xx driver in the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist file

For broadcom chipset users, in most cases you will need to blacklist the native bcm43xx drivers since they take precedence over ndiswrapper. If after installing ndiswrapper, and things are not working, and you check lshw -C network and you find the following:

Code:

  *-network               
       description: Wireless interface
       product: BCM4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller
       vendor: Broadcom Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@06:00.0
       logical name: wlan0
       version: 03
       serial: 00:12:17:35:17:10
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes bcm43xx ip=192.168.1.102 latency=64 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11g
       resources: iomemory:3c000000-3c001fff irq:11

You need to do ONE of the following to solve this problem:
a. At command line type:

Code:

echo "blacklist bcm43xx" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
echo "blacklist b43" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
echo "blacklist ssb" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

b. Manually edit the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist file: (

Code:

gksu gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

), and add the following:

Code:

blacklist bcm43xx

4. INVALID DRIVER - Ive installed ndiswrapper but when I try to install the Windows driver Im getting a line that states:

Code:

root@dhcppc1 ndiswrapper-1.47]# /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
driver bcmwl5 is already installed
root@dhcppc1 ndiswrapper-1.47]# /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l
bcmwl5 : invalid driver!
driver : invalid driver!

This error usually means that there are duplicate or more than one driver installed with ndiswrapper. The easiest way to resolve this message is to do the following:

Code:

sudo rm -R /etc/ndiswrapper/*

You will then have to reinstall your windows driver via.

Code:

sudo ndiswrapper **********.inf  <-----Substitue the appropriate name of your inf file here.

5. I tried install ndiswrapper from repository before I found this guide. How do I uninstall it??

Ndiswrapper Uninstall Instructions

These are instructions for manual un-installation of ndiswrapper. I would suggest if you installed ndiswrapper from repository with use of Synaptic, apt-get(aptitude), or some other means (Aptitude), you use the same means to uninstall the ndiswrapper program. Sometimes however un-installation via these means are unsuccessful and the following steps are necessary. These steps are also necessary if you have ever installed ndiswrapper from source sometime in the past.

Dont worry if some of these commands don't do anything or seem not to work -- some may be repetitive.

Code:

sudo aptitude purge ndiswrapper
sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/ndiswrapper
sudo sh -c "sed '/^ndiswrapper$/d' /etc/modules > /etc/modules.temp.rm; mv /etc/modules.temp.rm /etc/modules"
sudo rmmod ndiswrapper
sudo /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/ubuntu/misc/ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper.ko
sudo rm -rf /etc/ndiswrapper
sudo rm /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper
sudo rm /sbin/loadndisdriver
sudo rm /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/ndiswrapper.ko

Miscellaneous Driver Resources for Ndiswrapper
Broadcom Chipsets - Drivers -https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...eisty_No-Fluff

jeremy119

how do i get to ~/ndiswrapper

kevdog

If you created the directory ndiswrapper, you just do a

cd ~/ndiswrapper

jeremy119

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevdog

If you created the directory ndiswrapper, you just do a

cd ~/ndiswrapper

so how do i create the directory for ndiswrapper
cause it doenst say

jeremy119

nvm i found were i messed up thanks though

jeremy119

when ever i enter in

tar -zxvf ndiswrapper-1.48.tar.gz
cd ndiswrapper-1.48

i get an error and i dont know why

kevdog

What's the error -- cant say people have stumbled on this step before.

b1ankskater

Hi i Have a toshiba a215 s4757 with ubuntu 7.10 and i cant get the wireless to work i have been trying many things but i am some what of a noob when it comes to ubuntu and the console. Ok i can get all the way to this step "Verify installation with:
Code:

ndiswrapper -l

"Then when i type this command i get this reply
***** : invalid driver!
net5211 : invalid driver!
Please help i will continue to try and solve my problem untill i hear from some one here

kevdog

Do the following:

sudo rm -R /etc/modules/ndiswrapper/*

Make sure the /etc/modules/ndiswrapper directory is totally empty (no subdirectories or files).

Then just start over again wiith
sudo ndiswrapper -i net5211.inf

b1ankskater

ok i tried to do what you told me and this is what i got

kyle@kyle-laptop:~$ sudo rm -R /etc/modules/ndiswrapper/*
rm: cannot remove `/etc/modules/ndiswrapper/*': Not a directory

then i tried to start again even with the cannot remove message and it gave me this

kyle@kyle-laptop:~$ sudo ndiswrapper -i net5211.inf
driver net5211 is already installed
kyle@kyle-laptop:~$ ndiswrapper -l
***** : invalid driver!
net5211 : invalid driver!

please do what you can to help me

December 5th, 2007	#2
jeremy119 5 Cups of Ubuntu Join Date: Oct 2007 Beans: 25	Re: How To: Install Ndiswrapper (source, svn) - with Included Problem Solving Suggest how do i get to ~/ndiswrapper

December 6th, 2007	#3
kevdog I Want My $2!! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Denver, CO Beans: 7,077 Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex	Re: How To: Install Ndiswrapper (source, svn) - with Included Problem Solving Suggest If you created the directory ndiswrapper, you just do a cd ~/ndiswrapper __________________ Command Line Network Card Configuration / Port Knocking / Wireless Broadcom Reference / Compile Pidgin from Source / GnuPG Advanced Concepts

December 6th, 2007	#5
jeremy119 5 Cups of Ubuntu Join Date: Oct 2007 Beans: 25	Re: How To: Install Ndiswrapper (source, svn) - with Included Problem Solving Suggest nvm i found were i messed up thanks though

December 6th, 2007	#6
jeremy119 5 Cups of Ubuntu Join Date: Oct 2007 Beans: 25	Re: How To: Install Ndiswrapper (source, svn) - with Included Problem Solving Suggest when ever i enter in tar -zxvf ndiswrapper-1.48.tar.gz cd ndiswrapper-1.48 i get an error and i dont know why

December 6th, 2007	#7
kevdog I Want My $2!! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Denver, CO Beans: 7,077 Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex	Re: How To: Install Ndiswrapper (source, svn) - with Included Problem Solving Suggest What's the error -- cant say people have stumbled on this step before. __________________ Command Line Network Card Configuration / Port Knocking / Wireless Broadcom Reference / Compile Pidgin from Source / GnuPG Advanced Concepts

December 23rd, 2007	#8
b1ankskater First Cup of Ubuntu Join Date: Dec 2007 Beans: 2	error Hi i Have a toshiba a215 s4757 with ubuntu 7.10 and i cant get the wireless to work i have been trying many things but i am some what of a noob when it comes to ubuntu and the console. Ok i can get all the way to this step "Verify installation with: Code: ndiswrapper -l "Then when i type this command i get this reply ***** : invalid driver! net5211 : invalid driver! Please help i will continue to try and solve my problem untill i hear from some one here

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