Loading ...Howto: Prevent a Linux kernel module from auto loading
In some situation you may want to avoid loading a Linux driver module automatically . For example:
[a] You would like to use proprietary device driver (I'm against any sort of proprietary drivers) and not inbuilt (reverse engineer) kernel driver.
[b] If your server system connected without a diskette / floppy drive; kernel will try to load floppy driver - disable floppy driver or module.
[c] In some cases buggy driver causes kernel BUG on load so you just want to avoid the problem.
The Linux kernel get module information from /etc/modprobe.conf file and /etc/modprobe.d/* file(s).
If you are using CentOS/Redhat/RHEL/Fedora Linux...
Just open your /etc/modprobe.conf file and turn of auto loading using following syntax:
alias driver-name off
If you are using Debian / Ubuntu Linux...
open /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist file and add drivername using following syntax:
blacklist driver-name
Reboot your box and use lsmod command to show the status of modules in the Linux Kernel.
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You may also be interested in other helpful articles:
- FreeBSD Load Device Driver / Kernel Module
- Howto: build Linux kernel module against installed kernel w/o full kernel source tree
- How to display or show information about a Linux Kernel module or drivers
- Programming Tutorial: How To Write a FreeBSD Kernel Module ( Driver )
- FreeBSD: How to unload (remove) device driver (module) from kernel?
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Blacklisting in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist works in F7 too, not only in Debian!
On a similar path, how would you go about disabling USB without having to add nousb on the kernel settings line in GRUB ?
You need to add following drivers
usbcore
ehci_hcd
uhci_hcd
lsmod and modinfo command always gives information about loaded drivers.
the method is if nothing works in debian based distros to blacklist a certain module,try making a file /etc/modprobe.d/00local with content as
install modulename /bin/true