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Auto-NDISwrapper eases Linux wifi

The easylinuxwifi.org project has launched the first release of its Auto-NDISwrapper to make the installation of wifi drivers a doddle for Linux users.

The lack of drivers for some brands of wireless card can be the bane of many Linux users. But the recently released Auto-NDISwrapper tool from the easylinuxwifi.org project could dramatically simplify the process of getting unsupported wifi cards to work under Linux.

Auto-NDISwrapper, which recently went to the dizzying heights of version 0.1, is designed to ease the installation of wifi drivers on Linux by simplifying the use of the popular open source NDISwrapper tool.

NDISwrapper essentially mimics the Windows kernel API (Application Programming Interface) and the NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification) API from within the Linux kernel, allowing Linux users to utilise wifi drivers developed for Windows machines on their Linux boxes.

Although an effective tool, NDISwrapper has a reputation for being challenging to use for those less experienced with Linux and requires that the user tracks down the right Windows driver for their wireless card or USB device before installation.

The Auto-NDISwrapper tool is aimed at dramatically simplifying the process. Powered by a community-maintained driver database, Auto-NDISwrapper checks the hardware detected, downloads the appropriate driver and then sets everything up ready for use.

The application follows in the footsteps of other NDISwrapper tools, such as ndisgtk, which provide a graphical interface to NDISwrapper.