2006-09-11 17:26:30 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
A kernel module is the equivalent of a device driver in Windows. It is a fairly small piece of code the kernel can load in order to use a certain piece of hardware or perform some special function.
When a user compiles a new kernel, he has the option of including the code in the kernel itself, or compiling it separately as a module. The advantage of the latter is that a module can be loaded when needed, and unloaded when it isn't. So it can potentially save system resources, namely memory. Also, the module can be upgraded without having to recompile the kernel, which can save time.
In the past, the kernel used the file /etc/modules.conf to determine what modules to load at boot. Newer versions can determine what module is needed dynamically so /etc/modules.conf is not so important anymore. Modules can be loaded manually (by root) using the 'modprobe' or 'insmod' commands. Also, any user can see the currently loaded modules using the 'lsmod' command.
2006-09-11 17:40:23 · answer #1 · answered by stork5100 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The kernel is the core of an OS, It's a instruction set designed to interface the firmware and machine langauge code within the CPU and BIOS.
2006-09-12 00:34:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Kernel is the main component of the Linux Operating System. Think of it as the "heart" of Linux itself, no matter what distro it is.
2006-09-12 00:29:38 · answer #3 · answered by PK 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually it is drivers in Windows-speak.
The driver add-ons to the kernel; the central piece of software in a running system.
2006-09-12 00:29:37 · answer #4 · answered by Andy T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋