Ndiswrapper - Ubuntu WiFi in 4 Easy Steps

First download Ndiswrapper:

1) http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/joomla/

Then install your kernel headers and compilation packages:

2) sudo apt-get install build-essential

Unzip the ndiswrapper package. Navigate to the folder and issue:

3) make

The issue:

4) sudo make install

Your done. Add Ndiswrapper to autostart on boot:

sudo nano /etc/modules

Add ndiswrapper to the bottom of the list. And blacklist bcm43xx to prevent conflict:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Add “blacklist bcm43xx” to the bottom of the list.

Instantly load the ndiswrapper module to get your WiFi working without rebooting:

sudo rmmod ndiswrapper && sudo modprobe ndiswrapper

Now, could this be any easier Send a comment if your having trouble

NDISWrapper Finishing Touches to get it Working

NDISWrapper is a powerful tool to get your wireless hardware working. You can install NDISWrapper following my previous video tutorial, and/or my previous texual how-to.

http://www.bgevolution.com/blog/index.php/fedora-8-bcm43xx-ndiswrapper/

As for the finishing touches, NDISWrapper requires the blacklisting of conflicting drivers, and configuration for autostart in order to behave as expected. This video tutorial shows what two files need to be configured, and how to properly unload the bcm43xx driver, and load the NDISWrapper module.

Fedora 8 - bcm43xx - NDISWrapper

This article is applicable to people who want to use a Windows wireless driver, instead of bcm43xx or a derivative. The benefit is usually increased performance.

The bcm43xx Firmware does not operate at 54 Mb/s therefore the windows driver can be utilize with ndiswrapper. To get the driver visit your manufacturers website; for instance I have a HP laptop, therefore I go to HP.com and then to their drivers page. On the drivers page I look for the broadcom driver package for WIndows XP; it will be an .exe file. You will have to install cabextract to unpack the file. One of the files after unpacking will be bcmwl5.inf:

yum install cabextract

Your downloaded driver package will most likely be on the desktop:

cd Desktop

cabextract sp43654.exe

The .exe file will unzip and all the inner files will now be on the desktop. Proceed with the installation of NDISWrapper and then you can install the driver (bcmwl5.inf).

To download NDISWrapper you can visit:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=93482

You need gcc and the kernel headers to compile ndiswrapper:

yum install gcc kernel-devel-$(uname -r)

With these two packages, and associated dependencies NDISWrapper will install successfully.

Once your headers and compilation software are installed, navigate to the NDISwrapper folder and proceed to build:

cd Desktop

cd ndiswrapper-1.49

make

sudo make install

Then install the driver. Navigate to the desktop where you unzipped the .exe driver pack. Then proceed to install the new driver:

cd ~/Desktop

sudo ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf

Now you have to blacklist the bcm43xx driver to prevent conflict:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Add at the bottom of the file “blacklist bcm43xx”. Save and exit. Now add NDISWrapper to the modules list for autostart purposes:

sudo nano /etc/modules

Add on a new line “ndiswrapper”.

Done, finito, completo

BCM43xx; the dreaded Broadcom Drivers

Broadcom has zero(0) support for linux drivers. Ubuntu Feisty will recognize the wireless card, but it lacks the firmware to operate the device. The Broadcom BCM43xx drivers have been reverse engineered, albeit in a preliminary stage, and are not incredibly fast. I personally preferring using an ethernet cable over WiFi as it is much faster, but if you want to install the firmware to at leas get your wireless card to see hotspots do the following. It is supported by the main Ubuntu apt repositories, therefore you will be notified of updates automatically.

sudo apt-get install bcm43xx-fwcutter

This will installed a simple piece of software that will ask you if you want to automatically download the Windows drivers, and cut (extract) a linux compatible conversion. It will automatically install them for you! Just follow the on-screen instructions and your card will be working in seconds.

You will have to restart to get your hardware working, but if your in a rush to see it you can manually get it working instantly with the following commands that you will type into a terminal:

sudo rmmod bcm43xx

sudo modprobe bcm43xx

After the second command your light on the wireless card will obviously show that your card is operational. Then you can go to the network manager in the upper right hand task bar and you will see that your wireless card see available hotspots.