# NDISwrapper > driver wrapper for Windows devices used on Linux **Wikidata**: [Q1071380](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1071380) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NDISwrapper) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ndiswrapper ## Summary NDISwrapper is a free software driver wrapper that allows Windows network drivers to be used on Linux systems. It was created to enable compatibility between Linux and Windows network devices, particularly wireless adapters, by translating the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) protocol used by Windows into a format compatible with Linux. ## Key Facts - **Use**: Driver wrapper for Windows devices on Linux. - **License**: GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later. - **Latest stable version**: 1.63 (released on 2020-05-03). - **Inception**: 2003-11-17. - **Operating system**: Linux. - **Implementation of**: Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS). - **Aliases**: NDISulator. - **Website**: [ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net](https://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/). - **Programming language**: C (as per Open Hub data). - **Package availability**: Available in Gentoo, Mageia, Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux repositories. ## FAQs ### Q: What is NDISwrapper used for? A: NDISwrapper is used to enable Windows network drivers, particularly wireless drivers, to function on Linux systems by translating the NDIS protocol into a Linux-compatible format. ### Q: Is NDISwrapper free to use? A: Yes, NDISwrapper is free software distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later, allowing users to freely run, study, modify, and distribute it. ### Q: Which versions of NDISwrapper have been released? A: Notable versions include 1.60 (2016-05-01), 1.61 (2016-10-09), 1.62 (2019-02-10), and the latest stable version, 1.63 (2020-05-03). ### Q: Can NDISwrapper be installed on modern Linux distributions? A: Yes, NDISwrapper is available in package repositories for modern distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux, though its use may decline as native Linux drivers improve. ### Q: What is the difference between NDISwrapper and NDISulator? A: NDISulator is an alias for NDISwrapper, referring to the same software under a different name. ## Why It Matters NDISwrapper played a crucial role in the early days of Linux by bridging the gap between Windows and Linux network drivers, particularly for wireless devices. It allowed users to leverage existing Windows drivers for hardware that lacked native Linux support, facilitating broader adoption of Linux in environments where proprietary drivers were necessary. However, as Linux kernel support for wireless devices improved, the need for NDISwrapper diminished. Today, it remains a historical tool for compatibility but is largely superseded by native Linux drivers. Its significance lies in its role as a transitional solution that enabled Linux to access a wider range of hardware before more permanent solutions were developed. ## Notable For - **Compatibility**: Enabled the use of Windows network drivers on Linux, particularly for wireless adapters. - **Historical Significance**: One of the earliest and most widely used tools for cross-platform driver compatibility. - **Open Source**: Distributed under the GNU GPL, ensuring it remained freely available and modifiable. - **Cross-Platform Support**: Available in multiple Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux. - **Stable Releases**: Maintained regular updates with the latest stable version being 1.63 (2020). ## Body ### Overview NDISwrapper is a driver wrapper designed to allow Windows network drivers, particularly those using the Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS), to function on Linux systems. It was developed to address the lack of native Linux drivers for certain hardware, especially wireless network adapters. ### Development and Releases - **Inception**: NDISwrapper was first released on 2003-11-17. - **Versions**: Key releases include 1.60 (2016-05-01), 1.61 (2016-10-09), 1.62 (2019-02-10), and the latest stable version, 1.63 (2020-05-03). - **License**: Distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later, ensuring it remains free and open-source. ### Technical Details - **Implementation**: Translates NDIS protocol used by Windows drivers into a format compatible with Linux. - **Programming Language**: Primarily written in C, as per Open Hub data. - **Operating System**: Designed for Linux, with support across multiple distributions. ### Availability and Usage - **Package Repositories**: Available in repositories for Gentoo, Mageia, Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux. - **End of Support**: Gentoo discontinued support in 2020, but it remains available in other distributions. - **Legacy Status**: While still functional, NDISwrapper is largely obsolete due to improved native Linux driver support. ### Historical Context - **Purpose**: Created to fill the gap between Windows and Linux driver compatibility, particularly for wireless hardware. - **Impact**: Facilitated the adoption of Linux in environments where proprietary drivers were necessary. - **Decline**: As Linux kernel support for wireless devices improved, the need for NDISwrapper decreased. ### Aliases and Alternatives - **Aliases**: NDISulator. - **Alternatives**: Native Linux drivers, which have largely replaced NDISwrapper for modern hardware. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.openhub.net/p/ndiswrapper/analyses/latest/languages_summary) 2. [Version 1.60 released](https://sourceforge.net/p/ndiswrapper/news/2016/05/version-160-released/) 3. [Source](https://sourceforge.net/p/ndiswrapper/news/2016/10/version-161-released/) 4. [Source](https://sourceforge.net/p/ndiswrapper/news/2019/02/version-162-released/) 5. [Version 1.63 released. 2020](https://sourceforge.net/p/ndiswrapper/news/2020/05/version-163-released/) 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. [Source](https://gitweb.gentoo.org/repo/gentoo.git/commit/net-wireless/ndiswrapper?id=9a53249a6325dc6e479f6d512d1a3cc96bdfab57)