Static vs. Dynamic Modules

LINUXLPIC-1

The Linux kernel handles drivers in two ways:

  1. Static (Built-in): The code is part of the vmlinuz file itself. It’s always there. lsmod cannot see these.

  2. Dynamic (LKM): Loadable Kernel Modules. These are the .ko files that lsmod can see.

$ sudo modinfo virtio

[sudo] password for root:

name: virtio

filename: (builtin)

license: GPL

file: drivers/virtio/virtio

$ lsmod | grep -i virtio

$ (nothing is returned)

To know more about the virtio module, take a look at Virtualization (Part 1).

To know more about modules (in general), take a look at Modules.

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