Kernel modules compilation

Kernel modules compilation

[shacky]

Hi.

During the Linux kernel compilation, I need to compile some modules
which are necessary for the system boot.
I localized these modules analyzing the modules which are
automatically loaded at the startup of my Debian system whith the
standard Debian kernel, through the output of the "lsmod" command.
I tried to search for these modules in the "menuconfig" kernel
configuration program, but I cannot find some of them, not even
searching in the .config file.

How I can find what items in "menuconfig" I need to activate (marking
it with "m") to compile the modules I need for the system startup?

Thank you very much for your help!
Bye.

Re: Kernel modules compilation

[Jesper Juhl]

On 27/07/07, shacky <shacky83@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi.
>
> During the Linux kernel compilation, I need to compile some modules
> which are necessary for the system boot.
> I localized these modules analyzing the modules which are
> automatically loaded at the startup of my Debian system whith the
> standard Debian kernel, through the output of the "lsmod" command.
> I tried to search for these modules in the "menuconfig" kernel
> configuration program, but I cannot find some of them, not even
> searching in the .config file.
>
> How I can find what items in "menuconfig" I need to activate (marking
> it with "m") to compile the modules I need for the system startup?
>
You could start by telling people what modules you are talking about.


-- 
Jesper Juhl <jesper.juhl@gmail.com>
Don't top-post  http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/T/top-post.html
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Re: Kernel modules compilation

[shacky]

> You could start by telling people what modules you are talking about.

The modules I need are:

- bridge
- ipv6
- thermal
- fan
- button
- processor
- ac
- battery
- dm_snapshot
- tg3
- serio_raw
- pcspkr
- sata_svw
- libata
- i2c_piix4
- i2c_core
- tsdev
- reiserfs
- dm_mod
- sd_mod
- mptsas
- mptscsih
- mptbase
- scsi_transport_sas
- scsi_mod
- usbmouse
- usbhid
- usbkbd
- ohci_hcd
- ehci_hcd
- usbcore

I cannot found some of them in the kernel configuration.
Isn't there a general way to know what configuration compiles what
module in general?
I need to know this because I'm trying to compile a fully-optimized
version of the kernel for my xen0 domain on my amd64 system.
Is the "lsmod" way correct to find what modules I have to compile to
have a correctly-booting system with a very very small kernel?

Thank you very much for your help!
Bye.

Re: Kernel modules compilation

[shacky]

> Symbol: USB [=y]
> Prompt: Support for Host-side USB
>   Defined at drivers/usb/Kconfig:51
>   Depends on: USB_SUPPORT && USB_ARCH_HAS_HCD
>   Location:
>     -> Device Drivers
>       -> USB support (USB_SUPPORT [=y])

Could you tell me how you found them, please?

> Hint: In menuconfig, type "/" to search.

Thank you very much!

> Not really. Your distribution could be loading a ton of modules that
> you don't really need. 'lsmod' will just show you what is currently
> loaded, but that that doesn't necessarily mean that all those modules
> are really needed.

Ok, how I can know what modules are needed and what not? Only knowing
the hardware of my system?

Another question please, what the symbol "---" near a kernel
configuration entry in menuconfig means? This entry is activated (with
* or M) or not?

Re: Kernel modules compilation

[Jesper Juhl]

On 28/07/07, shacky <shacky83@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Symbol: USB [=y]
> > Prompt: Support for Host-side USB
> >   Defined at drivers/usb/Kconfig:51
> >   Depends on: USB_SUPPORT && USB_ARCH_HAS_HCD
> >   Location:
> >     -> Device Drivers
> >       -> USB support (USB_SUPPORT [=y])
>
> Could you tell me how you found them, please?
>

Some of them I just knew from past experiences where to find, some of
them are logical (like, obviously 'reiserfs' is found in the
Filesystems submenu), some I searched for using "/" and a few I
googled.

> > Hint: In menuconfig, type "/" to search.
>
> Thank you very much!
>
You're welcome.  By the way; if you had taken the time to read the
text at the top of the menuconfig interface you'd have known this
already - "... Press <Esc><Esc> to exit, <?> for Help, </> for
Search."

> > Not really. Your distribution could be loading a ton of modules that
> > you don't really need. 'lsmod' will just show you what is currently
> > loaded, but that that doesn't necessarily mean that all those modules
> > are really needed.
>
> Ok, how I can know what modules are needed and what not? Only knowing
> the hardware of my system?
>
If you know the hardware of the system, the filesystems you use etc
etc, then it should be possible to deduce what modules you need...
Read the help text for each config option related to your modules and
think about whether or not you need it...

> Another question please, what the symbol "---" near a kernel
> configuration entry in menuconfig means? This entry is activated (with
> * or M) or not?
>
It means that the option was automagically selected by some other
option you selected, so you can't disable it unless you first disable
that other option that selected it.

-- 
Jesper Juhl <jesper.juhl@gmail.com>
Don't top-post  http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/T/top-post.html
Plain text mails only, please      http://www.expita.com/nomime.html

Re: Kernel modules compilation

[shacky]

Thank you very much for your help!
Tomorrow I will try! :-)
Bye!