Add Kernel Modules

Compile Custom Kernel Modules

# Install kernel headers
apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential

# Configure kernel build options
cd /usr/src/linux-headers-$(uname -r)
make menuconfig

make menuconfig opens an ncurses interface. Navigate to the module you want, press M to build as module or * to build into kernel.

Load Modules at Runtime

modprobe

# Load a module
modprobe <module_name>

# Load with parameters
modprobe <module_name> param=value

# Remove a module
modprobe -r <module_name>

# Show module info
modinfo <module_name>

# List loaded modules
lsmod

# Check module dependencies
modprobe --show-depends <module_name>

Load Modules at Boot

/etc/modules

Add module names (one per line) to load at boot:

# /etc/modules
loop
nbd
tun

/etc/modprobe.d/

For modules requiring parameters, create a .conf file:

# /etc/modprobe.d/mymodule.conf
options <module_name> param=value

# Blacklist a module
blacklist <module_name>

Examples

# Load TUN/TAP module for VPN
modprobe tun
echo "tun" >> /etc/modules

# Blacklist PC speaker beep
echo "blacklist pcspkr" > /etc/modprobe.d/nobeep.conf