Linux loadable kernel modules help
 

Hi All,

While building a loadable kernel module say for example sample.c, we get various files as a result of successful compilation:
1. sample.ko -- module
2. sample.mod.c
3. sample.o
4. built-in.o
5. sample.mod.o

Will you guys please explain their purpose (except sample.ko)?

Thanks,

Those files are required to put together the module, but because the Linux kernel is constantly evolving, they first need to be configured (created) with source headers matching the kernel version you want it to load onto. Normally the current running kernel.

.mod.c stores the module structure in one place.

The kernel is written in C. The .o files are so-called object files. The object files can be linked to create an executable.

Thank you all for your relies.