Python/Compile & Installing Pcapy with latest WinPcap-4.1.x

Today I tried to compile & install excellent libpcap python extension "pcapy" on my Windows XP note pc.

• Pcapy .:: CORE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES ::.
  • http://oss.coresecurity.com/projects/pcapy.html

Pcapy official page serves exe installer for Python 2.5, WinPcap 4.0.x.
I'm using Python 2.5, but unfortunately, WinPcap-4.1.2 was installed on my note pc.

Hmm... it's time to download pcapy source code, compile, build, and install it.

My NotePC Environments:

OS : Windows XP SP3 Japanese
CPU : Intel PentiumM (Centrino) 1.2GHz
RAM : 1GB
Python : Python 2.5 (installed from MSI installer)
    Install Directory : C:\Python25

Requirements for this article, compiling pcapy:

Microsoft Visual Studio, C++
MyVersion : Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition SP1

obtaining WinPcap headers and libraries

1st, you must download WinPcap runtime installer, and install it.

• WinPcap runtime installer for Windows:
  • http://www.winpcap.org/install/default.htm

2nd, downlaod WinPcap Developer Resources (.zip archive), and extract it to your favorite directory.

• WinPcap Developer Resources
  • http://www.winpcap.org/devel.htm

(these url links are valid at 2010-11-2, and may be changed at future)

I expaneded it to "C:\work\misc\WpdPack_4_1_2".

C:\work\WpdPack_4_1_2\
                      Include\
                      Lib\
                      ...

get pcapy source code, and build it !!

Download pcapy-0.10.5 source code from pcapy homepage, and expand it.
I expanded it to "C:\work\misc\pcapy-0.10.5".

C:\work\misc\pcapy-0.10.5\
                          setup.py
                          README
                          ...

Open command prompt, setup Visual C++ Envorinment (ex: vcvars32.bat), and add following environments.

set DISTUTILS_USE_SDK=1
set MSSdk=1

If you've not read Python/Installing pydasm and pydbg with Python 2.5, WinXP, VC++2008 Express Edition , read it and modify "distutils\msvccompiler.py" in your Python Library tree.

Let's setup.py, with "--include-dir" and "--library-dirs" options:

> cd C:\work\misc\pcapy-0.10.5
> setup.py build_ext \
   --include-dirs C:\work\misc\WpdPack_4_1_2\Include \
   --library-dirs C:\work\misc\WpdPack_4_1_2\Lib
(compiling...)

If compile success, "build\lib.win32-2.5\pcapy.pyd" should be created. Check dependents:

> dumpbin /dependents C:\work\misc\pcapy-0.10.5\build\lib.win32-2.5\pcapy.pyd
...
File Type: DLL

  Image has the following dependencies:

   wpcap.dll
   WS2_32.dll
   python25.dll
   KERNEL32.dll

Dependency seems good. Then, try to install:

> setup.py install
running install
running build
running build_ext
running install_lib
copying build\lib.win32-2.5\pcapy.pyd -> C:\Python25\Lib\site-packages
running install_data
creating C:\Python25\share
creating C:\Python25\share\doc
creating C:\Python25\share\doc\pcapy
copying README -> C:\Python25\share\doc\pcapy
copying LICENSE -> C:\Python25\share\doc\pcapy
copying pcapy.html -> C:\Python25\share\doc\pcapy
running install_egg_info
Writing C:\Python25\Lib\site-packages\pcapy-0.10.5-py2.5.egg-info

import checks:

> C:\Python25\python.exe
Python 2.5.2 (r252:60911, Feb 21 2008, 13:11:45) [MSC v.1310 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import pcapy
>>> help(pcapy)
Help on module pcapy:

NAME
    pcapy - A wrapper for the Packet Capture (PCAP) library

FILE
    c:\python25\lib\site-packages\pcapy.pyd

CLASSES
    exceptions.Exception(exceptions.BaseException)
        PcapError

    class PcapError(exceptions.Exception)
     |  Method resolution order:
...

All-Right!!
Now we can use WinPcap through Python. Enjoy!!