Specialized software that runs inside the kernel.
16
votes
1answer
5k views
How to assign USB driver to device
This question is two-fold:
First, how do you manually detach a driver from a USB device and attach a different one? For example, I have a device that when connected automatically uses the ...
13
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the difference between kernel drivers and kernel modules?
When I do a lspci -k on my Kubuntu with a 3.2.0-29-generic kernel I can see something like this:
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation G86 [Quadro NVS 290] (rev a1)
Subsystem: ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Mount printers at /dev/usb and still use CUPS
Due to a new version of CUPS, I suddenly lost the direct path to my printers that was previously available under /dev/usb/lpXXX. I used this to print directly from the command line. echo "test" > ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I debug a kernel module in which a NULL pointer appears?
I have a custom kernel module that I compiled from this patch that adds support for the logitech G19 keyboard among other G series devices. I compiled it just fine against Ubuntu's maverick kernel's ...
6
votes
1answer
124 views
How's a module approved to be included into the linux kernel?
I'm now compiling the linux kernel 2.6, and finding there are more than 1,000 modules in total. How is a module approved to be included into the linux kernel?
6
votes
2answers
443 views
How to block loading kernel module only in single user boot when blacklist fails?
On a "Linux debian 2.6.32-5-amd64 #1 SMP" installation where loading a kernel module (mpt2sas) is desired to be delayed to be loaded after starting sshd and users can remotely login, the mpt2sas ...
6
votes
1answer
321 views
Grubby fatal error in Linux kernel installation
I have compiled Linux kernel 2.6.24.6 from source (without problem) and tried to install it. Specifically, after unpacking the Linux source code, I did
make && make modules
to compile. ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Best way to get into Kernel programming?
Not so much asking what books (although if you know of any guides/tutorials that'd be helpful) but what is the best way to start doing kernel programming and is there a particular distro that would be ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views
Determining cause of Linux kernel panic
I'm running an Ubuntu 12.04 derivative (amd64) and I've been having really strange issues recently. Out of the blue, seemingly, X will freeze completely for a while (1-3 minutes?) and then the system ...
5
votes
3answers
249 views
Disadvantages of linux kernel module?
I am trying to understand the disadvantages of using Linux kernel modules. I understand the benefits of using them: the ability to dynamically insert code into a running system without having to ...
5
votes
1answer
707 views
Custom kernel: fails to load firmware when module built-in
I'd like to have all my modules built-in, but this fails with iwlagn:
iwlagn 0000:03:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-6000-4.ucode' failed.
iwlagn 0000:03:00.0: no suitable firmware found!
...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Linux Kernel logical address space organisation
According to "Write Great Code" in almost all OS run time memory is organized into following regions:
OS | Stack | Heap | Text | Static | Storage/BSS
[In increasing address fashion]
User ...
5
votes
2answers
231 views
What package could “linux-headers-3.7.5-1-ARCH” mean?
I'm debugging a closed-source software installer that seems to have some pre-conceived notions about my distribution. The installation aborts after not finding apt-get. The command it attempts to run ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Webcam on Angström
I am running Angström on my BeagleBoard-xm. I want to use a webcam (I have Microsoft LifeCam Cinema and Logitech C310). I installed v4l-utils, libv4l-dev and kernel-module-uvcvideo with opkg. But the ...
5
votes
2answers
268 views
Unclaim a device
So I am using Ubuntu and trying to use some hardware which I had some problems with before.
The problem before was that the company who made my hardware sold their internal parts to another company ...
5
votes
2answers
753 views
What does mkinitrd change when it adds kernel modules to the initrd?
When creating an initrd using mkinitrd (CentOS 5.5), the kernel modules it adds to the initrd get modified in the process. For example, the initrd's /lib/sata_via.ko is not binary identical to ...
5
votes
1answer
247 views
Loading speedstep_centrino kernel module
Because of a noisy fan in my laptop, I need to change CPU frequency and for this task I need to load the appropriate kernel module.
The CPU in my laptop Acer TravelMate 4002WLMi is:
$ cat ...
4
votes
1answer
616 views
Booting without initrd
Is it possible to boot linux without a initrd.img ? I am planning to add default drivers as a part-of-kernel itself and avoid initrd completely.
What are the modules that should be made ...
4
votes
1answer
216 views
When should I keep debugging symbols in kernel modules?
When installing kernel modules, I have the option to strip out debugging symbols using INSTALL_MOD_STRIP=1. This saves significant disk space.
Does it also save memory? Why should one keep the ...
4
votes
2answers
272 views
How to debug an inserted kernel module?
I would like to debug a loaded kernel module I don't have the source code to; I suspect it's a virus. Is there a way to feed it into GDB for analysis?
4
votes
1answer
189 views
Automatically apply module patch and compile kernel when updated?
I've recently applied a one-line patch to drivers/bluetooth/btusb.c in order to enable compatibility with my Bluetooth device. However, whenever I get a kernel upgrade, the patch will be lost until ...
4
votes
1answer
179 views
What are EXT4 Security Labels?
During Gentoo installation of Gnome keyring, I am told to switch on EXT4 Security Labels, which is described in the kernel documentation by:
Security labels support alternative access control ...
4
votes
1answer
907 views
How to know whether the Linux driver for the real-time network device was built into the kernel?
From here: http://www.xenomai.org/index.php/RTnet:Installation_%26_Testing#Debugging_RTnet
The Linux driver for the real-time network device was built into the kernel and blocks the hardware.
...
4
votes
1answer
495 views
ALSA/ASoC: How to correctly load devices/drivers?
I am using Buildroot to build an embedded Linux (2.6.39.2) system for the NXP LPC3250 microcontroller.
Right now, I'm trying to get ALSA/ASoC up and running, but I'm having some issues with getting ...
3
votes
2answers
144 views
Kernel Modules: .o vs .ko
It seems that files containing kernel modules are called .o, at least that's what I figure when looking at a tutorial like this one. However, on my debian squeeze box, these files seem to be called ...
3
votes
2answers
994 views
Adding a new System call to Linux 3.2.x with a loadable kernel module [closed]
I want to add a particular new system call in the linux kernel 3.2.x but as a loadable kernel module (as I don't want to recompile the kernel again and again)
I read through many posts on internet ...
3
votes
1answer
305 views
Do I have to list modules in both `/etc/mkinitcpio.conf` and `/etc/rc.conf`?
I've added few modules into mkinitcpio.conf.
Are they automatically loaded at kernel boot or with udev if I don't specify them in modules list in rc.conf?
3
votes
2answers
909 views
Problem at boot-time: “Loading user-defined modules [FAIL]”
After I updated my Kernel to version 3.0, i always get this line when my Arch-Linux system is booting up:
Loading User-specified Modules [BUSY] [FAIL]
I have no idea what could cause this to ...
3
votes
3answers
140 views
How to determine which module taints the kernel?
My kernel keeps panicking when connected to a certain wireless network. I'd like to send a bug report but my kernel is apparently tainted. From /var/log/messages:
Apr 17 21:28:22 Eiger kernel: ...
3
votes
2answers
641 views
Can I detect if my custom made kernel was built with module support?
I have been provided with a vendor supplied minimal linux installation. From an answer to a previous question I discovered that it is possible to build a kernel with or without module support. I have ...
3
votes
2answers
596 views
How do I build the iptables kernel module for a loaded kernel?
I've built a kernel with loadable module support for various reasons, one of them the possibility to compile modules and load them without rebooting. This is supposed to be useful when I need a module ...
3
votes
1answer
252 views
Changes to input_get_keycode function in linux kernel (input/input.c)
I'm working on building a kernel module for an input device, and I noticed that in the module source, there's a couple calls to input_get_keycode(data->input_dev, scancode, &keycode); When I ...
3
votes
1answer
6k views
How to solve “building the main Guest Additions module Failed”
I tried to install the VirtualBox Guest Additions module in a VM guest running CentOS but I get this error message when everything else was okay:
building the main Guest Additions module Failed
...
3
votes
1answer
330 views
Xenomai and Ubuntu
I have installed xenomai 2.4.8 in Ubuntu 11.04 with this command:
apt-get install libxenomai-dev
Now I want test a simple vxWorks program, but when I compile my program, I receive this message:
...
3
votes
2answers
116 views
kernel module function call
I write a kernel module which has initialize and end function. I want one more function and want to call it from the user space process at any time i want.
Is it applicable ? If so, how ?
I am ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
How to get a list of installed external kernel modules?
From the documentation of Linux kernel 3.2 (Documentation/kbuild/modules.txt)
=== 5. Module Installation
Modules which are included in the kernel are installed in the
directory:
...
3
votes
0answers
37 views
What kernel module function gets called, when I say “cat myfile > /dev/sda” [migrated]
I've skimmed through the Linux Kernel Module Programming guide, but can't figure out:
When I say cat image.iso > /dev/sda, will it cause the write function of file_operations structure to be ...
3
votes
0answers
278 views
How to load HID kernel module from the kernel command line?
While upgrading a server from kernel 3.2.9 to kernel 3.5 I had a problem with the network (ifconfig eth0 up won't work) so I updated the system to get a newer userspace, but in the process something ...
2
votes
2answers
110 views
Why does modinfo say “could not find module”, yet lsmod claims the module is loaded?
According to the man page of lsmod the command shows “what kernel modules are currently loaded”.
I wrote a script that uses modinfo to show what kernel object (.ko) files are actually in use:
...
2
votes
1answer
264 views
VMwarePlayer on debian. Missing kernel modules
Today I changed my workstation to Debian. As Ubuntu is not nearly stable. Now I installed VMware player. I started it and got a message "Before you can run VMware, several modules must be compiled and ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Standard way to expose device file to userland applications running on an unprivileged user account?
I just finished the first version of a Linux kernel module I've written in C. The module creates a device file (/dev/wn0) that controls a USB device with three LED lights. For example, running as ...
2
votes
1answer
260 views
Find out which modules are asociated with a usb device?
Please recommend way to figure out which driver is being used for a USB device.
Sort of a usb equivalent of lcpci -k.
2
votes
1answer
134 views
Build kernel in one machine, install in another
I want to build my Linux kernel on my host and use it in my VWware virtual machine. They both use the same Ubuntu kernel now.
On my Host, I do make and make configure. Then, what files should I copy ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
How to run Different congestion control algorithms in FEDORA 17 ..?
Earlier versions of Fedora has different loadable kernel modules which includes diffrent congestion control algorithms etc at (/lib/modules/"kernel-name"/kernel/ipv4).These are present in the form of ...
2
votes
1answer
397 views
Sound not working when both the sound card and HDMI use the Intel HDA driver. How to exchange their device loading order?
I have an Acer Aspire One 522 netbook which has an Intel HDA sound card based on the Conexant CX20584 chipset. Although KDE does output sound when starting up, flash and probably many other apps which ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Identifying kernel modules
How do I get more information about a kernel module, like a long description?
For example, I can see kernel modules like lp or hid, but those short codes do not mean anything useful to me.
2
votes
2answers
978 views
How to enable force feedback in kernel 2.6.34 - 64 bit?
The wheel is Logitech driving force DFGT.
The platform:
linux-dopx:/home/anisha/ # cat /etc/issue && uname -a
Welcome to openSUSE 11.3 "Teal" - Kernel \r (\l).
Linux linux-dopx ...
2
votes
1answer
500 views
VirtualBox host-only network suddenly stopped working , no interface available inside
I'm unable to setup host-only network in virtualbox suddenly , please see my screenshot , there's no entry in "Name" comboBox
2
votes
1answer
161 views
rpm content compress
My default kernel rpm has 12mb size, for some reasons I compile a custom kernel and make rpm from that(make rpm command). However, my custom kernel rpm size is 96mb.
I look inside default rpm, in ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
What does 'Invalid module format' mean?
After executing...
sudo modprobe rt3572sta
I get...
Invalid module format
What does it mean? I'm trying to get Wusb600n v2 working on Lucid Lynx.
Does it mean that kernel versions aren't ...
