2.6.5 kernel and alsa (quick question).

[servo888]

If I want to compile my own modules of the ALSA drivers then in the kernel config do I set the ALSA support as a module or leave it blank?

The way I figure if I set this as a module then make modules_install will compile and shove the modules in the /lib/modules/x directory; so compiling the alsa drivers later on would simply overwrite the ones created.

thanks the help,

[gehidore]

alsa will look for alsa in the kernel as a module, it will also look for ic2 support /hardware/yoursoundcard also as a module

look at my kernel config


# I2C support
#
CONFIG_I2C=y
# CONFIG_I2C_CHARDEV is not set

#
# I2C Algorithms
#
# CONFIG_I2C_ALGOBIT is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_ALGOPCF is not set

#
# I2C Hardware Bus support
#
# CONFIG_I2C_ALI1535 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_ALI15X3 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_AMD756 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_AMD8111 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_I801 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_I810 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_ISA is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_NFORCE2 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_PARPORT_LIGHT is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_PIIX4 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_PROSAVAGE is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_SAVAGE4 is not set
# CONFIG_SCx200_ACB is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_SIS5595 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_SIS630 is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_SIS96X is not set
# CONFIG_I2C_VIA is not set
CONFIG_I2C_VIAPRO=y
# CONFIG_I2C_VOODOO3 is not set

and

#
# Sound
#
CONFIG_SOUND=y

#
# Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
#
CONFIG_SND=y
CONFIG_SND_TIMER=y
CONFIG_SND_PCM=y
CONFIG_SND_RAWMIDI=y
# CONFIG_SND_SEQUENCER is not set
CONFIG_SND_OSSEMUL=y
CONFIG_SND_MIXER_OSS=y
CONFIG_SND_PCM_OSS=y
# CONFIG_SND_VERBOSE_PRINTK is not set
# CONFIG_SND_DEBUG is not set

#
# Generic devices
#
CONFIG_SND_MPU401_UART=y
# CONFIG_SND_DUMMY is not set
# CONFIG_SND_MTPAV is not set
# CONFIG_SND_SERIAL_U16550 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_MPU401 is not set

#
# PCI devices
#
CONFIG_SND_AC97_CODEC=y
# CONFIG_SND_ALI5451 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_ATIIXP is not set
# CONFIG_SND_AU8810 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_AU8820 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_AU8830 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_AZT3328 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_BT87X is not set
# CONFIG_SND_CS46XX is not set
# CONFIG_SND_CS4281 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_EMU10K1 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_KORG1212 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_MIXART is not set
# CONFIG_SND_NM256 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_RME32 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_RME96 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_RME9652 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_HDSP is not set
# CONFIG_SND_TRIDENT is not set
# CONFIG_SND_YMFPCI is not set
# CONFIG_SND_ALS4000 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_CMIPCI is not set
# CONFIG_SND_ENS1370 is not set

# CONFIG_SND_ENS1371 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_ES1938 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_ES1968 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_MAESTRO3 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_FM801 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_ICE1712 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_ICE1724 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_INTEL8X0 is not set
# CONFIG_SND_INTEL8X0M is not set
# CONFIG_SND_SONICVIBES is not set
CONFIG_SND_VIA82XX=y
# CONFIG_SND_VX222 is not set

they are all modules and i have my soundcard module under sound and ic2

[mrnoonan81]

Leave it blank and put your module(s) in /lib/modules/kernel_version/kernel/sound/ by hand. (you may want to go some sub directories deeper, depending on the module you're putting in there)


To generalize, if you wish to compile or use a kernel module that is not included with the kernel source, you should not configure your kernel with that module configured. Just be sure that the module you're using is compiled against the kernel you're using. In theory (without version checking in the kernel), a module could work between versions, but it would only be by chance and I'm not sure, but I think it could be dangerous.

Configuring a driver as a module doesn't effect the kernel it's self, but only tells make to build that driver as a module, which (as you said) will over-write the module you're trying to use should you run make modules_install.