Build SUSE kernel doesn't need "make modules"?

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server SLES Install-Boot
1

From README.SUSE, I can see the following instructions to compile the kernel:

(1) Install kernel-source.$ARCH.rpm. Change to the /usr/src/linux
directory.

(2) Create a build directory for use in configuring and building
the kernel. Using /usr/src/linux directly requires root priviledges
and will cause problems if you need to build kernel modules for
other installed kernels.

(2) Configure the kernel (for example, make -C /usr/src/linux O=$(pwd) oldconfig'' or make -C /usr/src/linux O=$(pwd) cloneconfig’’,
see HOW TO CONFIGURE THE KERNEL SOURCES).

(3) Build the kernel and all its modules (``make’’).

(5) Make sure that /etc/modprobe.d/unsupported-modules contains

       allow_unsupported_modules 1

   otherwise modprobe will refuse to load any modules.

(6) Install the kernel and the modules (make modules_install'', followed by make install’’). This will automatically create
an initrd for the new kernel as well (see ``mkinitrd -h’’).

(7) Add the kernel to the boot manager. When using lilo, run ``lilo’’
to update the boot map.

But I can’t see “make modules” command. Doesn’t building SUSE kernel need “make modules”?

2

Hi
It should build all the relevant (as in Y set) modules automatically
via copying the config file to PWD via the following command;

zcat /proc/config.gz >.config

Or are you trying to build a specific module not in the default kernel
(as in a kmp)?

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° LFCS, SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | GNOME 3.10.1 | 3.12.44-52.18-default
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please show your appreciation and click on the star below… Thanks!

3

Hi malcolmlewis,

Firstly, thanks very much for your response!

I am a little confused, is “make modules” optional in building kernel?
No “make modules” command, we can also execute “make modules_install”
command?

Thanks very much!

Best Regards
Nan Xiao

4

Hi
AFAIK if just building a kernel module by itself you need to run make
modules and make modules_install but if rebuilding the whole kernel it
should be taken care off.

What are you trying to build, a missing module you need? If so it’s
better to just build that module and install rather than the whole
kernel.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° LFCS, SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | GNOME 3.10.1 | 3.12.44-52.18-default
If you find this post helpful and are logged into the web interface,
please show your appreciation and click on the star below… Thanks!

5

Hi

I just want to make sure whether “make” includes “make modules”. After posting the
issue on SO,
I get the answer: that is yes!

Thanks very much for your kind help!

Best Regards
Nan Xiao