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The Win32 NDIS Framework (WinDis32)
Welcome!If you have reached the PCAUSA Rawether for Windows website it is likely that you are a Microsoft Windows software developer looking for answers to some apparently simple questions:
You may also have some additional requirements in mind:
About Rawether...Rawether for Windows is a fifth-generation framework for development of Windows products that allow a user-mode application to "directly" access NDIS network interface card (NIC) drivers from Win32 applications. Rawether was originally introduced in 1997 (in the Windows 9X and Windows NT 4.0 timeframe...) and has been in continuous distribution since then. Rawether uses NDIS protocol drivers that act as a "relay" between an application and the NDIS miniport driver. Using Rawether for Windows your application can send and receive raw Ethernet packets on a selected miniport and can make NDIS requests to query and set a miniport's information. The Rawether framework consists several components including a user mode API export DLL and several supporting platform-specific NDIS protocol drivers. Together these components function as a "bridge" between your user mode application and the kernel mode NIC driver. In most cases the presence of the supporting NDIS protocol drivers is transparent to your application; they are dynamically loaded and unloaded manual interaction with the Network Control Panel Applet (NCPA). Your application can be installed and removed like an ordinary Windows application. In terms of the current Microsoft DDK samples Rawether can be loosely compared to the NDISPROT WDK driver sample. Unlike the WDK NDISPROT "sample", Rawether already includes many of the features that you would need and is widely distributed as-is without the need for custom driver development. Here are some of the key features of Rawether for Windows: Rawether Windows Platform SupportThe Rawether API allows you to write one application that can be use with little or no change across all of these platforms:
This means that you can write one application that can be used with little or no change across all of the supported platforms. Using Rawether for Win32 Application DevelopmentRawether for Windows is intended to be used for Win32 application development without the the need to modify the stock Rawether NDIS protocol drivers. A large number of Rawether for Windows SDK users are highly successful without ever examining the NDIS driver code. The heart of Rawether is a uniform Win32 application program interface (API) called the "Win32 NDIS" API or the "Rawether API" exported by the DLL. You build your application by linking to the DLLs import library and compiling with header files provided with the Rawether Software Development Kit (SDK). Your applications are built under Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 of Visual Studio 2008. Rawether for Windows includes:
In addition, the Rawether runtime components are intended to be distributed under a royalty-free license. Although the executables NDIS protocol driver provided with Rawether should not be distributed as-is with your product, your Rawether license allows you to make your own "OEM version" of the drivers by renaming the driver and its device and symbolic link names and the driver copyright and rebuilding using the Microsoft WDK. (Alternatively PCAUSA can make a Rawether OEM version for your company for a reasonable cost.) Your Rawether OEM version can be safely installed side-by with other
Rawether-based products. Using Rawether for Special-Purpose NDIS Protocol Driver DevelopmentRawether for Windows is also for driver developers. If you order the Rawether for Windows Professional package then you receive sources to the Rawether drivers for all the supported Windows platforms. Some Rawether customers make modification to the drivers (e.g., add GPS
timestamp, other special requirements). Other customers adopt methods
illustrated in the Rawether drivers into their own proprietary drivers. Supporting the FutureA .NET Framework API written in C# (called "Rawether .NET" of course...) is also available. The Rawether .NET API provides a rich and uniform programming interface across all Windows platforms that support the .NET Framework. No Recurring RoyaltiesRawether for Windows is provided with a simple turn-key license that includes the ability to redistribute your application and the renamed Rawether runtime components in executable form with no recurring royalties. Product pricing does vary based on the length of time that technical support and product updates will be provided. The "basic" editions include 90 days of technical support and updates, while the "subscription" editions include one year of support and updates.
Where To Go From Here...Rawether Product Tour
Rawether Product Central
What's New in the Most Recent Release
Other PCAUSA ProductsPCAUSA provides additional product offerings in the area of specialized network software development toolkits for the Microsoft Windows platforms. These include:
Please visit the PCAUSA website!
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