make xconfig

Help messages

Enable loadable module support
Kernel modules are small pieces of compiled code which can be inserted in or removed from the running kernel, using the programs insmod and rmmod. This is described in the file Documentation/modules.txt. Modules can be device drivers, file systems, binary executable formats, and so on. If you think that you may want to make use of modules with this kernel in the future, then say Y here. If unsure, say Y.

Set version information on all symbols for modules
Usually, modules have to be recompiled whenever you switch to a new kernel. Enabling this option makes it possible, and safe, to use the same modules even after compiling a new kernel; this requires the program modprobe. All the software needed for module support is in the modules package in sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/kernel, available via ftp (user: anonymous) to be extracted with "tar xzvf filename". NOTE: if you say Y here but don't have the program genksyms (which is also contained in the above mentioned modules package), then the building of your kernel will fail. If you are going to use modules that are generated from non-kernel sources, you would benefit from this option. Otherwise it's not that important. So, N ought to be a safe bet.

Kernel daemon support
Normally when you have selected some drivers and/or filesystems to be created as loadable modules, you also have the responsibility to load the corresponding module (via insmod/modprobe) before you can use it. If you select Y here, the kernel will take care of this all by itself, together with the user level daemon "kerneld". Note that "kerneld" will also automatically unload all unused modules, so you don't have to use "rmmod" either. kerneld will also provide support for different user-level beeper and screen blanker programs later on. The "kerneld" daemon is included in the package "modules-1.2.8" and later. You will probably want to read the kerneld mini-HOWTO, available via ftp (user: anonymous) from sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/mini. If unsure, say Y.

Last Modified: 17 September 1996