[edit]NIC driver

packet50071 · Post by **packet50071** » Sun May 11, 2008 9:24 am

I want to add internet support to my OS

But i have no clue of what so ever about where to start . I googled but no luck. any pointing to right direction would be great.

01000101 · Post by **01000101** » Sun May 11, 2008 9:37 am

have you written a NIC driver? if not, that would deffinately be the first place to start as writing a TCP/IP stack doesn't provide much functionality without a network card.

but, assuming you have. You need to create structures of the various protocols (TCP/IP, ARP, RARP, ICMP, IGMP, etc...) and then parse the structure after the packet has been copied onto the appropriate structure.

If you have some decent assembly knowledge, I believe Dex just relased his TCP/IP stack which you could look at to get you more familiar with the stack. Also, if you google for TCP/IP Stacks I'm sure you will find pre-built structures with explanations to guide you along.

packet50071 · Post by **packet50071** » Sun May 11, 2008 9:53 am

thanks for the reply

I don't have NIC driver . thats what I am looking for

Dex · Post by **Dex** » Sun May 11, 2008 10:56 am

So what NIC card do you have on your sys ?, put the name of it in Google along with date sheet and see what it comes up with.

lukem95 · Post by **lukem95** » Sun May 11, 2008 11:31 am

There are some entries on the Wiki for common cards (ne2k and a realtek one iirc).

I'd suggest buying one of those (or using qemu/bochs to emulate one) and write your first driver for that.

packet50071 · Post by **packet50071** » Sun May 11, 2008 11:35 am

I have this VIA Rhine II fast ehternet adapter

I thought there are some standard basic features that are common in all cards. Am i wrong ?

Dex · Post by **Dex** » Sun May 11, 2008 1:12 pm

packet50071 wrote:I have this VIA Rhine II fast ehternet adapter

I thought there are some standard basic features that are common in all cards. Am i wrong ?

Yes, you need to write a driver for your card, Some times you can not find a data sheet.
So you look for Linux or BSD drivers eg:
http://www.gelato.unsw.edu.au/lxr/sourc ... ia-rhine.c
In it you will find "References"

Preliminary VT86C100A manual from http://www.via.com.tw/
http://www.scyld.com/expert/100mbps.html
http://www.scyld.com/expert/NWay.html ftp://ftp.via.com.tw/public/lan/Product ... 100A03.pdf
ftp://ftp.via.com.tw/public/lan/Product ... 02_021.PDF

This leads to
http://people.freebsd.org/~wpaul/VIA/VT86C100A03.pdf
and
http://people.freebsd.org/~wpaul/VIA/VT6102_021.PDF
Thats how you get info for your driver.

01000101 · Post by **01000101** » Sun May 11, 2008 6:15 pm

packet50071 wrote: I thought there are some standard basic features that are common in all cards. Am i wrong ?

There are "standards" but unfortunately finding a card that actually obeys the standards is hit or miss. Ne2K is one type of standard.