DEPMOD (8)
handle dependency descriptions for loadable kernel modules
SYNOPSIS
depmod
-a [-einqsvVr]
[-C\ configfile] [-F\ kernelsyms] [-b\ basedirectory] [forced_version]
depmod
[-einqsv] [-F\ kernelsyms] module1.o module2.o ...
OPTIONS
DESCRIPTION
The
depmod
and
modprobe
utilities are intended
to make a Linux modular kernel manageable for all users,
administrators and distribution maintainers.
Depmod
creates a "Makefile"-like dependency file, based on the symbols it finds
in the set of modules mentioned on the command line
or from the directories specified in the configuration file.
This dependency file is later used by
modprobe
to automatically load the correct module or stack of modules.
The normal use of
depmod
is to include the line
/sbin/depmod -a
somewhere in the rc-files
in /etc/rc.d, so that the correct module dependencies will be available
immediately after booting the system.
Note that the option
-a
now is optional.
For boot-up purposes, the option
-q
might be more appropriate since that make depmod silent about
unresolved symbols.
It is also possible to create the dependency file immediately
after compiling a new kernel.
If you do "depmod -a 2.2.99" when you have compiled kernel 2.2.99 and
its modules the first time, while still running e.g. 2.2.98, the file will
be created in the correct place.
In this case however,
the dependencies on the kernel will not be guaranteed to be correct.
See the options
-F, -C and -b
above for more information on handling this.
CONFIGURATION
The behavior of
depmod
and
modprobe
can be adjusted by the (optional) configuration file
/etc/modules.conf
See
modprobe(8)
and
modules.conf(5)
for a complete description.
STRATEGY
Each time you compile a new kernel, the command
make modules_install
will create a new directory, but won't change the default.
When you get a module unrelated to the kernel distribution
you should place it in one of the version-independent directories
under /lib/modules.
This is the default strategy, which can be overridden in /etc/modules.conf.
FILES
/etc/modules.conf (alternatively but depreciated /etc/modules.conf)
/lib/modules/*/modules.dep,
/lib/modules/*
SEE ALSO
AUTHOR
Jacques Gelinas (jack@solucorp.qc.ca)
Bjorn Ekwall (bj0rn@blox.se)
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