whatis kernel-module
Kernel Module
Also known as: driver, modprobe, lsmod, .ko
A piece of kernel code, usually a driver, that can be loaded and unloaded at runtime without rebooting. Managed with modprobe.
What Is a Kernel Module in Linux?
Most hardware drivers and filesystems ship as .ko module files under /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/. udev loads the right ones automatically when hardware appears. lsmod lists loaded modules and modinfo describes one.
Options go in /etc/modprobe.d/, where you can also blacklist a module to stop it loading. Out-of-tree modules like NVIDIA or ZFS must be rebuilt for each kernel, which DKMS automates.
Example
lsmod | grep kvm
sudo modprobe -r pcspkrLearn more about Kernel Module
- Kernel Modules Explained: lsmod, modprobe, and DKMS Most drivers on Linux are kernel modules, loaded and unloaded at runtime. Here is how to inspect them with lsmod and modinfo, manage them with modprobe, blacklist the troublesome ones, and understand what DKMS rebuilds.
- DKMS Explained: Why Your Driver Breaks on Kernel Updates Out-of-tree kernel modules have to be rebuilt for every kernel. DKMS automates that, and understanding it is the difference between a routine update and booting to a black screen.
- Linux GPU Drivers Explained: amdgpu, i915, Xe, nouveau and NVIDIA Which driver your card uses, why AMD and Intel work out of the box while NVIDIA does not, what the open NVIDIA kernel modules actually changed, and how to tell what is loaded before you start changing things.