ksm

Section: Kernel Symbol Manipulation (8)
Updated: 1.0.0
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NAME

ksm - Kernel Symbol Manipulation description

DESCRIPTION

Some of the kernel (and modules) symbols have strange suffixes like _b81a20a5.
It's a checksum value calculated by genksyms from function parameters and return value types.

What is it good for ? It make sure module can not be inserted into the kernel if that module and kernel have different opinions about function parameter's types.

This is really good.
But...
But sometimes genksyms may create "false alarm" calculating different checksum for pretty same function.
It's often happen when module was compiled for different kernel version or kernel was compiled with another configuration or with patches.

In this case insmod is "too safe", and it prevent "good" module from been inserted.

Kernel Symbol Manipulation was created to solve this problem. ksm change modutils program's idea about kernel symbols names. ksm allow following operation:

alias - add additional name to kernel symbol
rename - change kernel symbol name
hide - hide kernel symbol

File /etc/ksm.conf is a config file Kernel Symbol Manipulation and it should contain commands for kernel symbols name changing.

NOTE 1

Kernel Symbol Manipulation is a powerfull, but dangerous tool. Use it on your own and be sure you are exactly understand what are you doing.

NOTE 2

ksm should not (and can not) be used to rename GPLONLY symbol to non-GPL, or to add non-GPL name to GPLONLY symbol.

This document was created by man2html, using the manual pages.
Time: 07:40:02 GMT, May 16, 2006

ksm

NAME

DESCRIPTION

NOTE 1

NOTE 2

SEE ALSO

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