Ndiswrapper works no more with new kernel

[fjleal]

I've been using the ndis wrapper software available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/ndiswrapper/ to be able to use my wireless nic on FC2 (a Broadcom 4301, no native drivers are available). It worked well until I upgraded to kernel 2.6.6-1.435.2.3. Now, when I try to "modprobe ndiswrapper", I get the message:

"FATAL: Error inserting ndiswrapper (/lib/modules/2.6.6-1.435.2.3/misc/ndiswrapper.ko): Invalid module format"

I worked well with 2.6.6-1.435 and 2.6.6-1.435.2.1. May someone know what is that "invalid format" due to?

Thanks a lot!

[micha]

Yeah, I guess there's something wrong with the new kernel. I've got the same error with ndiswrapper and the ATI driver....

[fjleal]

Thanks, micha, thought I had messed up! I guess I'll keep on using 2.6.6-1.435.2.1, then...

[micha]

Originally Posted by fjleal

I guess I'll keep on using 2.6.6-1.435.2.1, then...

That's what I do

[merith]

I had upgraded already to 2.6.6-1.435.2.3, then I installed the ndiswrapper. All appears ok, modprobe works fine for me. I am running HP nx7010. I followed the basic setup instructions on this link, http://www.linuxelectrons.com/articl...40507104718960, though once I got it running I configured it through the gui and not the wrapper itself.

[Arthur]

Might be an obvious question, but thought I'd better check. Did you update the ndiswrapper module to go with the new kernel?

Since ndiswrapper is a kernel module, its specific to the kernel you compiled it for. If you upgrade the kernel you'll have to update the module.

If you grabbed it from rpm (already compiled), then hunt down a newer version for the kernel you've just put on. If you installed from source, just recompile it (make clean; make; make install).

This will also be true for any other kernel modules you've added to the base kernel e.g. nvidia/ati drivers, connexant modem drivers, zero-install lazyfs etc.

[fjleal]

Originally Posted by Arthur

Did you update the ndiswrapper module to go with the new kernel? (...) If you installed from source, just recompile it (make clean; make; make install).

Yes Arthur, I did recompile it and followed the instructions in the README file to install it against the new kernel, like I had done with the previous one. It didn't help, but I can perfectly work with kernel 435.2.1, so it's no big problem... I was just wondering if i'd done something wrong. I'll try recompiling and reinstalling it again when a new kernel version becomes available. In the meantime, it's working perfectly with kernel 2.6.6-1.435.2.1.

Thank you all folks for your answers!

[Marty]

hey I had the INVALID FORMAT error before.. I kinda fixed it later
it has to do with the kernel source code compiled with ndiswrapper not matching with the current running one
these are the steps I did:

Installing Ndiswrapper
1. Downloaded kernel source to /usr/src/kernel/linux-2.6.3/
2. Created a symbolic link in /lib/modules/2.6.3-7mdk called build that references the kernel source

ln -sf /usr/src/kernel/linux-2.6.3/ build

3. Downloaded ndiswrapper 0.9 to /usr/local/ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper-0.9/
4. "make install" prompt error (need to configure kernel to accept modules)
5. Ran "make oldconfig" within the kernel source directory (oldconfig reverts to old configuration)
6. Ran "make install" again, no errors
7. Ran "modprobe ndiswrapper", prompt error "INVALID FORMAT". Possibly due to new kernel configuration not compatible with the current kernel build. Resolved to rebuild kernel
8. After rebuilding kernel, "make install" and "modprobe ndiswrapper" does not register error
9. At this stage, using iwconfig does not gain connection to wireless. AP shows up in the interface (wlan0) but no connection is established.
10. Various measures were taken :
a). edited the file ifcfg-wlan0 in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts with

DEVICE=wlan0
BOOTPROTO=dhcp
TYPE=Wireless
ONBOOT=yes
HWADDR=your MAC address
MII_NOT_SUPPORTED=1
NEEDHOSTNAME=yes
GATEWAY=your gateway
KEY=your WEP encryption key
ESSID=your essid

(see bunnymechanics.com/toshiba.html for more details)

b). Mandrake Control Center (configuration --> configure your computer --> network & internet --> manage connections) and click Apply to wlan0
c). Set Key, Set ESSID, and use "ifconfig wlan0 up"

At this stage, still have no improvement. But after restarting comp, it works.

[fjleal]

Thanks, Marty, but I'm now using kernel 2.6.7-1.494.2.2 and ndiswrapper 0.9, and it works like a charm! I simply uninstalled ("make clean") ndiswrapper-0.8 and did the installation procedure for ndiswrapper-0.9 again.

It works great!

[burgeke]

I know this is an older thread but in case anyone has the same issue, just remove the "custom" take from the kernel source makefile. Marty had it dead on - the kernel source from Fedora has a "custom" version add on while the running kernel does not. Once you remove this your modules will compile and load just fine.

BTW: I got this info from here - http://ipw2100.sourceforge.net/faq.php#qa_1_9 when I had the same problem myself.

Keith