Compiling ndiswrapper-1.51

Forum: Networking
Topic: Compiling ndiswrapper-1.51
started by: joel_k

Posted by joel_k on Feb. 03 2008,19:57

I am trying to compile the latest version of ndiswrapper to get my wirless card working. I am running DSL-4.2.3 and have installed everything need to build the module (gnu-utils, gcc1-with-libs, linux-2.4.31). I have made oldconfig, linked to /usr/src/linux-2.4.31 (as /lib/modules/2.4.31/build points). The build proceeds fine until I get a long list of make error 2's. The error 1 that starts them says:

gcc: installation problem, cannot exec `/KNOPPIX/usr/bin/../lib/gcc-lib/i486-linux/3.3.4/cc1': Argument list too long.

I haven't run into any error quite like this when building under other distro's. I would assume its something that has to do with the way gcc is installed in the DSL mod. I'll poke around and see if I can learn anything on my own and maybe alter the make file, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by Juanito on Feb. 04 2008,03:37

You could try:

1. Google on the error you pasted above and see what comes up
2. the compile-3.3.5 extension rather than gcc1-with-libs

Posted by curaga on Feb. 04 2008,07:22

As lucky13 proved, that is pretty much in vain. He found out the most recent ndiswrapper, that works with 2.4 kernels that is, needs gcc 3.4 and some lib updating, which by his words would outweigh the gains clearly.

Posted by lucky13 on Feb. 04 2008,16:17

Nobody reads the changelogs? The last ndiswrapper for 2.4 is 1.48:

Quote

Dropped support for 2.4 kernels (and very old 2.6 kernels)

< http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/joomla....llation >

Nobody bothers to read the installation guide? It's not just a matter of running ./configure. You would know this if you'd read the documentation.

Quote

You need a recent kernel, at least 2.6.18 or 2.4.26, with kernel headers, and gcc-3.4 or newer. Make sure that /lib/modules/VERSION/build is a link to the kernel source, where VERSION is the version of the kernel you are running; this should be setup automatically by distribution package. If this path is not valid, kernel modules can’t be compiled. Also make sure gcc and associated packages (e.g., libc6-dev on Debian based distributions) are installed so C programs can be compiled. For help with these steps, refer to your distribution documents.

Ibid.

Update gcc and C libraries? This is a lot of work for very little improvement and how important is it to get it working *right now* depends on your level of patience. The real solution to better hardware (including wifi) support is updating the entire DSL base -- kernel, toolchain, etc. -- and will be available soon. But if you like reinventing wheels, be sure to read the documentation (or the forums to see what's already been done and if the results were worth the effort).

Posted by joel_k on Feb. 05 2008,06:52

Well, not being inclined to give up to easy I did try several approaches. I did miss the changelog, however I read the install and README. Build was looking for a file in linux-2.4.31/scripts called Makefile.build. This file is used in 2.6, but not in 2.4 -- thus the helpful changelog. I decided that I would just try dsl-3.4.11 since the card is rather old, and this worked without problem after much reading of makefiles and web on 4.2.3.