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32-bit packet drivers

Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2002 9:57 pm
by Paul
Does anyone know where I can get raw packet drivers??? Dos packet drivers are CLOSE but not
good enough. First of all, they are 16-bit, and second
of all, they make DOS (int 21h) calls. It would be
great to have raw 32-bit code for all of the common
network cards. (Source would be nice) I even looked
into linux drivers but they are too heavily integrated
with the Linux kernel. I'm hoping someone else
has already done a conversion.

What I envision is a chunk of code I can load into memory (anywhere), and all I have to do is set up
an entry in my IDT to point to the first byte of that code. Then I can call that interrupt and use the
standard packet driver functions!

Please don't tell me no such thing exists! I would greatly appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction.

Re:32-bit packet drivers

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2002 5:32 am
by Tim
Please don't tell me no such thing exists!
OK, I won't.



I lied. No such thing exists. As you identified, the closest thing that exists is 16-bit real-mode packet drivers. Their equivalent in protected mode would the Microsoft NDIS drivers, which communicate with the OS through a limited API, and pretty much only send and receive packets. Get hold of a copy of the Windows DDK for more information.

Another option would be to implement UDI support in your kernel.