Do We Have to Compile ALSA As a Module?

johnleemk · 02-04-2004, 09:16 AM

Because I realised that in my 2.4 kernel installation, ALSA wasn't directly in the kernel, but in modules. Now my sound won't work in 2.6.2, and I think it's because I compiled ALSA directly into the kernel. I've just recompiled them as modules, but if this works, is there any reason why they have to be modules?

Whoops - just noticed I posted this in hardware. I think it's pertinent though - my sound card works in 2.4. However, when running 2.6.2...

Code:

xmms
audio_alsa: no cards found!
audio_alsa: no cards found!
 
** WARNING **: oss_open(): Failed to open audio device (/dev/dsp): No such device

What happened to my sound card? lsmod reveals:

Code:

# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
dmfe                   18748  -
snd_pcm_oss            49092  -
snd_pcm                87168  -
snd_page_alloc          8868  -
snd_timer              21280  -
snd_mixer_oss          16704  -

When I try to load a pertinent module:

Code:

# modprobe snd
FATAL: Error inserting snd (/lib/modules/2.6.2/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko): Input/output error

Update:
Hm... alsaconf solved my woes.

Still curious about why I had to compile ALSA as a module, though. *crosses fingers and hopes he didn't screw anything up with the kernel*

natalinasmpf · 02-04-2004, 01:06 PM

Its not just 2.4 or 2.6, if I compile many features built-in, they can't load at boot.

Yeah, mainly th e reason for my switching distros.

Agh! Too bad there are virtually no programs to detect this.

On the subject will recompiling my kernel help? I think its slackware's 9.1's bare.i kernel,,. it won't detect my scanner, (although cat /proc/usb/, etc. reveals it) and only one sound channel can be opened.

For example if I use kdenotify and run another program, the sound won't run. Anyway...I hope this is fixed as I am now recompiling my kernel.

*cross thumbs, sums experience and hope it doesn't end up like the other disasters*

What files should I back up in /etc/ or /boot/ before a doomed kernel might replace it?