Linking to the NDIS Library (NDIS 5.1)
Note NDIS 5. x has been deprecated and is superseded by NDIS 6. x. For new NDIS driver development, see Network Drivers Starting with Windows Vista. For information about porting NDIS 5. x drivers to NDIS 6. x, see Porting NDIS 5.x Drivers to NDIS 6.0.
The NDIS Library is packaged in ndis.sys, a kernel-mode export library as a set of functions, with emphasis on macros for maximum performance. (An export library is a .sys file that functions similarly to a dynamic-link library.) The NDIS Library functions are described in the Network Driver Reference. Both protocol and NIC drivers, including WAN NIC drivers, link themselves to the NDIS Library. The NDIS Library functions are described in the Network Driver Reference.
The Windows Driver Kit (WDK) provides ndis.h as the main header file for miniport drivers. This file defines the entry points for the miniport driver, the NDIS Library functions, and common data structures. The Network Reference describes the miniport driver, protocol driver, and NdisXxx functions, as well as the common data structures and OIDs.