Managing Kernel Modules at Runtime

Kernel modules reside in directory

/lib/modules/<version>

For 2.4, the modules end with .o; for 2.6 they end with .ko

Dynamically loaded at run time

Kernel modules are controled by modutils package, which includes commands:

 lsmod   #lists loaded modules 
 rmmod   #unloads a module 
 insmod  #loads a module
 modprobe #loads a module with its dependances 
 modinfo  #gives info on a module

Module dependences are stored in

/lib/modules/<version>/modules.dep

and generated automatically by depmod command at system startup.

Module parameters (IRQ and addresses) and aliases: /etc/modules.conf

To update it, modify files in /etc/modutils then run

/sbin/update-modules

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