Where to get kernel modules

#1 22nd July 2008, 11:20 AM

Hi, I am in need of installing a specific kernel module for Fedora (usb-serial.ko) for the 2.4.29 kernel, and i can't seem to find where to get it, or at least where to get the source code and a makefile.
I'm also in doubt if there is such a module for the kernel 2.4.29 or if it can be a module from another distro other than Fedora.

Thanks in advance

kadambi · #2 22nd July 2008, 01:37 PM

2.4.xx series?

You can usually find all built modules in /lib/modules/`uname -r`/.
On my F9 system, I have this:

/lib/modules/2.6.25.10-86.fc9.x86_64/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/usbserial.ko

A.Serbinski · #3 22nd July 2008, 03:10 PM

2.4.29. Wow, old. That kernel was released in Jan 2005, probably just before FC1 support was dropped.

Even with a kernel that old, the usb-serial drivers were included with the kernel sources. If your system is lacking this support, then either the module was somehow lost over the years, or for some reason it was disabled when the kernel was compiled.

The module should be located in drivers/usb/serial as mentioned by kadambi. If they're not there already, you should try reinstalling the kernel. If still not there, you may need to compile your own kernel - download and install the SRPM for the kernel, reconfigure it to enable the usbserial driver, then install.

Further suggestion though: time for an upgrade.

#4 22nd July 2008, 03:11 PM

Well, i've already looked in that folder and there's no usbserial.ko or anything similar. I've read somewhere that doing "modinfo name_of_module" gives you the info about the module if it is somewhere in your system. I've tried "usbserial", "usb_serial" and "usb-serial" and it recognizes none of them.
The system i'm using has been stripped down quite alot, and is very customized. I would install something more complete, but the problem is that it is a shared system and i wanted to do as little changes as possible, or i'll enter everyone else's hate list.

If you could point me to some kind of repository that has built modules available, or even the source code and some makefile, it would be really good.

Thanks for your answer.

#5 22nd July 2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.Serbinski

2.4.29. Wow, old. That kernel was released in Jan 2005, probably just before FC1 support was dropped.

Even with a kernel that old, the usb-serial drivers were included with the kernel sources. If your system is lacking this support, then either the module was somehow lost over the years, or for some reason it was disabled when the kernel was compiled.

The module should be located in drivers/usb/serial as mentioned by kadambi. If they're not there already, you should try reinstalling the kernel. If still not there, you may need to compile your own kernel - download and install the SRPM for the kernel, reconfigure it to enable the usbserial driver, then install.

Further suggestion though: time for an upgrade.

I only saw your answer after i wrote my last message.
Well, the problem is that this is a test platform for a solution that is already on the field running, meaning that i can't upgrade anything and not risk losing the validity of the tests.

Is there any way that i can get this module without having to make a new kernel or tamper with the one that is already installed?

kadambi · #6 22nd July 2008, 03:18 PM

Well, look at the sources for older kernels. usb-serial is obviously available:

http://lxr.linux.no/linux-old+v2.4.3...rs/usb/serial/

Did you install the original kernel from sources or from Fedora repositories?

kadambi · #7 22nd July 2008, 03:20 PM

You won't have to install a new kernel. You'll have to re-compile the new kernel (and modules) and can just install the usb-serial module. This way you won't be tampering with the current kernel.

#8 22nd July 2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kadambi

Well, look at the sources for older kernels. usb-serial is obviously available:

http://lxr.linux.no/linux-old+v2.4.3...rs/usb/serial/

Did you install the original kernel from sources or from Fedora repositories?

I didn't install the system. I just fell on this by chance in the 2 weeks ago, and i'm still disoriented. I didn't know that when you compile a kernel you get all the modules, so that seems like a good approach to my problem. Thanks for your input

A.Serbinski · #9 22nd July 2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pescobar

I only saw your answer after i wrote my last message.
Well, the problem is that this is a test platform for a solution that is already on the field running, meaning that i can't upgrade anything and not risk losing the validity of the tests.

Is there any way that i can get this module without having to make a new kernel or tamper with the one that is already installed?

As kadambi said, you can build your new kernel and copy its module to your existing kernel. Just make sure that you compile EXACTLY THE SAME VERSION. That means use the Fedora kernel source (since there are custom modifications made to it by RH).

A.Serbinski · #10 22nd July 2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pescobar

I didn't install the system. I just fell on this by chance in the 2 weeks ago, and i'm still disoriented. I didn't know that when you compile a kernel you get all the modules, so that seems like a good approach to my problem. Thanks for your input

You don't just get all the modules, you have to enable them to be compiled. You're going to install the kernel source, configure it to enable the modules you are missing, compile it, and copy the particular module.

But before you go and start compiling kernels, make sure that you check the latest kernel package for FC1 in case it has the module. If it does, you just extract the missing file(s) from the rpm and copy them into their appropriate location. You then run "depmod -a" to add the module to the modules database.

#11 23rd July 2008, 05:37 PM

Hi again,

i've been searching everywhere for a download of FC1, but the oldest version i can find is FC2, which already has kernel 2.6.
By any chance any of you know where to download FC1?

Thanks

A.Serbinski · #12 23rd July 2008, 07:07 PM

When you go to most mirrors into the /fedora/core/1/ directory, there is a file there called README. That file contains the following:

Quote:

ATTENTION
======================================
The contents of this directory have been moved to our archives available at:

http://archives.fedoraproject.org/fedora/

If you are having troubles finding something there please stop by #fedora-admin on irc.freenode.net

The URL listed is not quite right, but with a little searching around the server "archives.fedoraproject.org", what you're looking for IS there.