Loading and Unloading Kernel Modules
A kernel module is a piece of kernel code in a file that you can add to a running kernel and later remove again. A small family of commands inserts one, removes one, lists what is currently loaded, and handles modules that depend on other modules. Loading is also the moment a driver first runs, so it is where your code either works or fails loudly. Being fluent with these four commands is the core of the develop-and-test loop.
Questions this Concept answers
- Why does `modprobe` sometimes succeed where `insmod` fails on exactly the same driver file?
Managing Loadable Kernel Modules in Linux
The Linux kernel mediates all interaction between user applications and system hardware (CPU, memory, devices), and its functionality can be extended or reduced at runtime through loadable kernel mod…