problem while building a driver /lib/modules/'kernel-ver-default'/build: No such file

dslara · 11-21-2009, 03:08 PM

I am trying to install a data acquisition A2D card from General Standards Corporation. I am new to installing drivers for linux.

I am using opensuse 11.2 kernel 2.6.31.5-0.1-default

Installed linux from scratch (KDE4) on a 32-bit pentium 4 machine.
opensuse 11.2 seems to be working fine.

Downloaded the kernel sources, the "make" application, gcc (which required the kernel headers).

The sources are in /usr/src ... as expected (?)

There is a broken link in /lib/modules/2.6.31.5-0.1-default called "build" that points to the inexistent

/usr/src/linux-2.6.31.5-0.1-obj/i386/default

FYI - only /usr/src/linux-2.6.31.5-0.1-obj exists

Question 1 - where did this broken link come from?

It so happens that the "make_all" that comes with the linux drivers for my A2D card looks for that precise broken link. I imagine this is pretty common but I didn't know that.

Question 2 - what is supposed to be in that broken link and how can I fix it so that it points to the correct directory.

If I just "fix the link" and make it point to, say
/usr/src/linux-2.6.31.5-0.1

the "make_all" application of the A2D card keeps going a little further, but then it tells me that autoconf.h and auto.conf couldn't be found, and that I could try to use "make oldconfig && make prepare".

Q3 should I do this?

Thank you for any time spent on this, really.

business_kid · 11-22-2009, 11:18 AM

What kernel are you on? (uname -r tells you)
I am on 2.6.30.5, so the magic for me would be

cd /lib/modules/2.6.30.5/
ln -s /usr/src/linux-2.6.30.5/ build

Substitute your kernel version, and check it points at a directory.

dslara · 11-23-2009, 05:04 AM

Thanks business_kid.

My kernel version is 2.6.31.5-0.1-default

Through a bit of trial and error, I got my data acquisition card to work.

In summary, what I needed to do is to compile the kernel source files and modules.

I am not sure why, but it worked.

Of course, I also had to fix the broken link as business_kid mentions, but that was just the beginning of the problem.

This has now been resolved.

Thank you for all who spent time on this.