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Kernel Modules: Extend the Kernel

Kernel modules extend kernel functionality. Load them. Remove them. As needed.

Here's the thing: Modules are like plugins. Add functionality without rebuilding kernel.

What Modules Are​

Modules are:

  • Hardware drivers
  • Filesystem support
  • Network protocols
  • Loaded/unloaded as needed

My take: Modules extend kernel. Load them when needed. Remove when not.

Module Management​

List Modules​

lsmod                            # List loaded modules
lsmod | grep nvidia             # Specific module

My take: lsmod shows loaded modules. Use it to see what's loaded.

Module Information​

modinfo module_name              # Module details

My take: modinfo shows module information. Use it to understand modules.

Load/Remove Modules​

# Load module
sudo modprobe module_name

# Remove module
sudo modprobe -r module_name

# Load with options
sudo modprobe module_name option=value

My take: modprobe loads and removes modules. Use it to manage modules.

Common Modules​

Hardware Drivers​

# Graphics
modprobe nvidia

# Network
modprobe e1000

# Storage
modprobe nvme

My take: Modules provide drivers. Load them for hardware support.

When You'll Use Modules​

You'll use modules when:

  • Adding hardware support
  • Loading drivers
  • Troubleshooting devices
  • Extending functionality

Most of the time: Modules load automatically. You don't need to touch them.

My take: Modules usually work automatically. Touch them when you need to.

Common Mistakes (I've Made These)​

  1. Removing wrong module: Removing modules can break things. Be careful.

  2. Not checking dependencies: Modules have dependencies. Check them.

  3. Loading manually when not needed: Modules load automatically. Don't load manually unless needed.

  4. Not understanding options: Module options affect behavior. Understand them.

  5. Removing system modules: Don't remove system modules. They're needed.

Real-World Examples​

Load Driver​

sudo modprobe nvidia

Check Module​

lsmod | grep nvidia
modinfo nvidia

Remove Module​

sudo modprobe -r nvidia

What's Next?​

Now that you understand modules, you can extend the kernel. Or learn about Performance Tuning to optimize system.

Personal note: Modules seemed complex at first. Then I used them. Now I understand them. They're simple. Load. Use. Remove. That's it.