How do I check sequence of and re-arrange modules loaded at startup?
 

Hello,

I'd like to know how to see a list of the modules loaded at startup of my OS and also would like to know how to re-arrange the modules to fix a certain problem.

Last month I installed the latest version of sidux as the sole OS on a desktop tower. When I installed it, there was no sound. I fixed that by installing the latest ALSA files, but that installation broke kppp which I use for my dial-up Internet connection-- I use a US Robotics, external, serial, 56K modem, "Sportster", modem 5686-03. [Once I re-installed the OS to get a working kppp, there was no sound again. Currently though, because I re-installed ALSA files, I have sound but no working kppp, therefore no Internet connection 'til the problem is fixed. I use another home desktop tower computer (on which MEPIS 7.0 is the sole OS) to connect to the Internet.]

A guy in the ALSA-project mailing list told me that he thinks my problem has to do with the sequence of modules being loaded at startup. He didn't tell me how to fix this though. He wrote:

"This sounds like something I got on a laptop I had with Ubuntu 7.10. As initially installed the dial-up modem driver is not present and sound works. Install the modem driver and sound stops. It was something to do with the order in which modules loaded. The modem drivers use the sound card for doing some of the digital signal processing.

I think that the problem can be resolved by making sure that the modem drivers only load after the other sound drivers. Sorry I'm being vague - I don't have that laptop at the moment. Try doing an lsmod in each of your scenarios and looking at the modules loaded. Then try blacklisting the snd- one kppp is loading. That will probably break kppp but let sound work ok. Then see if loading the offending module after everything else gets both working together."

[End of his message to me.]

How do I selectively use lsmod to see what's loading when? How do I change the order of modules being loaded so that the problem I have might or will end?

Please explain by offering examples since I'm not an expert at Linux.


Thanks

it would really help if you name the actual modules you think you need for the modem.

I think a combination of preloading certain modules and loading others in rc.local (which is the last init script to be run) may be the solution but as I do not have your hardware it is hard to give examples.

the alsa is a little easier....but you have not named your soundcard or chipset.

2) to start...leave your modem turned off pls and re-boot and scan for current loaded modules
do not post that list as its too long....I suggest you use a on line storage site to upload it and link to it so only those people who are interested in helping will bother to download the text file....I recommend www.ripway.com if you do not have a site in mind.

3) Next go into bios and turn off your onboard sound if its onboard....turn on modem and boot and repeat commands but call next file lsmod2.txt and link to it.

4) we should be able to identify your soundcard/chipset and modem driver from those.

I use Mandriva and it has a /etc/modprobe.preload text file you can modify with root powers to preload certain modules.....you may also have /etc/modules which can be used for same effect

and all distros have a /etc/rc.local or it may be /etc/initd or in your runlevel but it will exist.


anyhow see if you understand where I am going and if you like the idea pls post more info

oops I forgot to mention you can run command
lspci > /lspci.txt which should also identify soundcard with luck

Thanks aus9 for your help.

I followed your instructions and did sign up with Ripway.com.
Here are the links you'll need. --> The name of each file is important to note <-- :

http://h1.ripway.com/se74/hwinfo_with_modem_on.txt

http://h1.ripway.com/se74/lsmod_soun...d_modem_on.txt

http://h1.ripway.com/se74/lsmod_with_modem_off.txt

http://h1.ripway.com/se74/lspci.txt


I hope the outputs will help you help me.

An odd thing I noticed when I examined lsmod with my other computer, another desktop having only one OS (MEPIS 7.0, a Debian-based distro) and using a second, US Robotics external, serial, 56K modem for dial-up via kppp. When I have this other computer and modem on and when I then run lsmod, I get a bunch of ppp modules showing up but these don't show up with the other computer, the one that has sidux as OS and the one with the kppp & sound problem. Here are the top entries in the output of lsmod with my MEPIS computer, the one with no problem with sound nor with kppp:

Module Size Used by
ppp_deflate 5376 0
zlib_deflate 18584 1 ppp_deflate
bsd_comp 6016 0
ppp_async 9216 1
crc_ccitt 2944 1 ppp_async
ppp_generic 22164 7 ppp_deflate,bsd_comp,ppp_async
slhc 6144 1 ppp_generic

These don't appear in the output of lsmod for my sidux computer. Maybe the alsa sound files prevent the above modules from even appearing in lsmod for the sidux computer-- I don't know. Tell me what you think.


Thanks

attempt to correct sound with modem already on
------------------------------------------------
that was a good effort I hope I can match it

here is xxdiff on your drivers split over 2 screens to act as scroll down

http://h1.ripway.com/aus9/xxdiff1.png
http://h1.ripway.com/aus9/xxdiff2.png

You can see with modem off the block of green sound modules (drivers) with soundcore and sn page not in the block

2) so the idea is leave modem on...and have a rc.local edit with root powers to load the following

-----copy and paste...double check pathway for modprobe is same pls----

/sbin/modprobe snd_intel8x0
/sbin/modprobe snd_pcm_oss

----------------------------------
this will auto load the other modules but obviously you are going to check your lsmod

report what happens either way pls


turn off onboard ethernet broadcom in bios

check if /dev/ttys0 symbolic links to /dev/modem ...if not use root powers
ln -s /dev/ttys0 /dev/modem

then redo kppp setup and pull down and select /dev/modem.

------------------------------------
if success....modem on and sound works add dial up modules

yes you are missing the dial up modules that kppp expects so now amend rc.local to add but I am not sure of the order

/sbin/modprobe ppp_deflate
/sbin/modprobe ppp_async
/sbin/modprobe bsd_comp

now bsc_comp is something I do not recall from my old dial up days but I hope the modules exist

-------------------------
you can do a search for those modules in /lib/modules/kernel-version using a find command

eg
find /lib/modules -name (eg ppp-deflate*)

note the change from understem _ to hyphen -

oh forgot to add some comments

while computer is still booted run those modprobes and check lsmod that they work

if they work....edit rc.local as suggested and reboot.

now I am not too sure about your ppp dependencies so we may have an issue there but I am 80% confident we will fix the sound with the modem turned on....until you tell me otherwise.

I am not sure what you mean by a second modem...why could you not test with the same one on mepis?