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h2sammo
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 Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:47 am Post subject: What kernel modules do i select at startup? [solved] |
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on command | Code: | | # find /lib/modules/<kernel version>/ -type f -iname '*.o' -or -iname '*.ko' |
i see a HUGE list of modules, spanning longer than my screen displays (i dont even know how i can scroll up).
i am supposed to add modules by hand by typing them into:
| Code: | | # nano -w /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6 |
my question is how do i know WHICH ONES from the TOO MANY i see i have to select. i dont even know what they pertain to.
any help?
Last edited by h2sammo on Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:08 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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poly_poly-man
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:58 am Post subject: |
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you used genkernel, didn't you.
Configure a kernel yourself, and put stuff you know you need in-kernel (rather than as a module). Then, disable what you know you will never need. What's left is modules that *could* be loaded, but not automatically (for example, a USB dongle that you only plug in sometimes).
besides, it's a learning experience (about your hardware in particular).
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h2sammo
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:02 am Post subject: |
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i started the manual config but i stopped when it got to that options page...
i am not familiar with what all the options mean. what happens if i leave deselected something i need for gentoo to boot properly. how can i know what to select and what to leave deselected. is there a tutorial for that?
so, what happens in my current condition now...having used genkernel, do i get any advice from here on or its just "bite the concrete son!" |
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poly_poly-man
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:06 am Post subject: |
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| h2sammo wrote: | i started the manual config but i stopped when it got to that options page...
i am not familiar with what all the options mean. what happens if i leave deselected something i need for gentoo to boot properly. |
keep you old kernel around. Although the reading material supplied by hitting "?" should be enough to avoid that (in most cases)... we've all had our share of unbootable kernels  | Quote: | | how can i know what to select and what to leave deselected. is there a tutorial for that? |
ask pappy because he is the king. Basically, read the documentation for the generic stuff, and make sure you select the right drivers for your hardware (lspci + google + that magic debian website = your friends) | Quote: | | so, what happens in my current condition now...having used genkernel, do i get any advice from here on or its just "bite the concrete son!" |
genkernel is like turning your kernel into a broken puzzle that can put itself together again. Configure it yourself and you'll have a working puzzle (bad analogy, but who cares?). genkernel is bad, manual configuration will give you a streamlined, fast, space-efficient kernel, and some knowledge to boot.
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h2sammo
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:14 am Post subject: |
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what happens if i dont put any modules in the autoload file?
will it load whatever it needs by default? |
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poly_poly-man
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:20 am Post subject: |
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| h2sammo wrote: | what happens if i dont put any modules in the autoload file?
will it load whatever it needs by default? |
Hopefully - but do remember that some stuff - especially disk controllers - must be in-kernel in order to boot.
I'd recommend not actually using modules beyond any usb or firewire device.
Then, there are no modules you must autoload
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h2sammo
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:24 am Post subject: |
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ah there are none i must autoload, thats good to know.
how will i be able to load them later on if and when i need to?
will i be prompted to do it? |
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ppurka
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:31 am Post subject: |
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If you haven't blacklisted any module (by putting the module name in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist), your kernel should automatically load the needed modules as and when the need arises.
For example, if you have a usb mouse, then as soon as you plug it in the kernel (udev? hal?) should automatically load the hid, usbhid, etc modules. You can verify this by running "lsmod" before and after inserting such a usb mouse if you have one.
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poly_poly-man
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:34 am Post subject: |
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| h2sammo wrote: | ah there are none i must autoload, thats good to know.
how will i be able to load them later on if and when i need to?
will i be prompted to do it? |
well...
let's take a look at my module situation. Most of my hardware is builtin to the kernel, so it is never a module (and therefore is never loaded - it is just there).
output of modprobe -l: http://omploader.org/vMWQ5NQ
Yeah, I know, half that stuff I could enable in-kernel, and the other half could be eliminated (but the middle half still needs to be modules - paride stuff, for example).
I autoload ppdev, lp, parport, parport_pc, loop, and kvm_amd (again - all things I should have in-kernel, but have been too lazy to fix) - none of these will autodetect hardware and load automagically.
Some other stuff (usbserial, sound card stuff, hwmon) gets loaded automatically - whether on hardware plugin or on boot by other processes.
A few things (paride) needs to be loaded by modprobe when I want to use it...
sorry if it's not really clear - I'm very tired right now
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h2sammo
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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ok, thx for the info, i begin to understand.
next question:
what if i decide to recompile my kernel manually later on, will that disrupt my files or the way i have the systems setup up to that point? what will the implications of recompiling the kernel manually lets say 1 month from now, after having been using the system for 1 month. |
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poly_poly-man
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| h2sammo wrote: | ok, thx for the info, i begin to understand.
next question:
what if i decide to recompile my kernel manually later on, will that disrupt my files or the way i have the systems setup up to that point? what will the implications of recompiling the kernel manually lets say 1 month from now, after having been using the system for 1 month. |
if you change modules, it'll take some work to get your autoload files correct.
You'll have to recompile nvidia-drivers or ati-drivers, and anything else that has modules (not much)... other than that, no issues.
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minor_prophets
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:09 am Post subject: |
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poly_poly-man
| Quote: | | ask pappy because he is the king. |
pappy_mcfae, that is.
True, true. That was like saying you can get hotdogs at RutsHut. That is, the statement is an understatement, for those that don't get it.
h2sammo,
Nothing will every replace the experience of being in the /usr/src/linux directory, issuing a and looking at every single item, line by line, reading each "help" description of what the kernel option is all about. You will become far more familiar with the kernel this way.
-MP-
ps-keep at it, h2sammo. You're on the right track and asking the right questions and doing a good job. With patience and time, you will come to learn more about computing than you knew there was to learn.
pps-About recompiling messing up your system:
The wonderful thing about bootloaders lilo and grub is that you can compile new kernels, recompile existing kernels and not touch your original working kernel simply by adding new entries into your grub.conf file(if your using grub) or lilo.conf file(if your using lilo). You can have all sorts of kernel around to boot at a whim. Flexibility, huh?
Do search out the Gentoo Linux Kernel Guide |
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h2sammo
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| ok , i know i will want to mess with this later on, i will ask the questions then. |
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h2sammo
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Installing Gentoo
